When a thorny issue arises, the number one tactic in President Trump’s playbook has been to find the next shiny object. Develop an alternative story to feed the hungry mob. For the first time in a long time, that strategy is not working.
Trump can’t escape the public outcry to release the Epstein files—something both he and his minions campaigned on over the past few years. Rather than moving on to another issue, the outcry for releasing the Epstein files continues to grow stronger on both sides of the aisle.
So, what red meat has Trump tossed to the angry mob?
Trump accuses Barack Obama of treason and claims he should face criminal charges.
Trump revives unfounded allegations that Beyonce, Oprah, and Al Sharpton were paid to campaign for Kamla Harris and claims they should be prosecuted.
Trump opens an investigation against Jack Smith for violating the Hatch Act because he claims his actions were politically motivated.
Trump sues Rupert Murdoch for $10 billion for what he claims is a false story about Trump’s lewd birthday card drawing that he sent to Epstein on his 50th birthday.
Trump starts a campaign for Coca-Cola to use real cane sugar.
Trump starts a campaign to change the Washington Commanders name back to its former racist Redskins name.
Trump positions nuclear submarines near the Russian border.
Trump calls Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell a “stubborn moron” and urges the Board to take control.
Trump fires the Commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics Erika McEntarfer because he claims she falsely reported job numbers that made him look bad.
And when asked why he broke off a friendship with Epstein, Trump claims it was because he stole employees from Mar-a-Lago. It was never about stolen employees. It always comes down to real estate with Trump, and this was no exception. And, by the way, it was Maxwell who lured Virginia Giuffre away from Mar-a-Lago—not Epstein.
The fallout between the two occurred over a real estate deal that Trump bought from under Epstein. Epstein bid $36 million. Trump bid $40 million for a property in a bankruptcy auction. Trump made minor cosmetic repairs to the estate and then sold the property to a Russian oligarch for $96 million a few years later—a transaction questioned by many at the time.
Trump has always campaigned as an outsider who wants to protect the common man, using an “I’ve got your back” mantra. This whole Epstein fiasco is about Trump protecting the insiders or elites—a club of which he is a member. To calm the maddening crowd, he may toss in some grand jury testimony about Epstein which won’t quell the beast. That testimony is a small segment of material and far from representative of the mounds of material in the Epstein files.
For years, Trump has worked under the auspices of assigning blame to others whenever possible. He campaigned on stopping the Ukraine/Russia war on Day One. He campaigned on lowering prices. He campaigned on reducing taxes for the masses. And he campaigned on releasing the Epstein files. The Ukraine/Russia War is raging. Prices are up. Taxes are being reduced for the elites–not the masses. And the Epstein files have not been released.
A growing number of MAGA loyalists feel betrayed. This time the buck may stop with Trump. Stay tuned.
Maria Grant was principal-in-charge of the federal human capital practice of an international consulting firm. While on the Eastern Shore, she focuses on writing, reading, music, and nature.
Wilson Dean says
Trump’s diversionary tactics remind me of our three-year old’s response when I correct her and she tells me what one of her “stuffies” (stuffed animals) did wrong. Infants, whether they be 3 or 79 with an infantile mind, use the same strategy.
What I find bewildering is why the MAGA crowd has become so totally obsessed with the Epstein files (other than being told by their cult leader during the campaign he would release them). MAGA cult followers have consistently overlooked Trump’s racism, rapes, business fraud, attempt to overthrow the US government, perpetual lies, decimation of American institutions, Gestapo-style raids on people who have lived here peacefully for decades, destruction of our relationship with global allies helping us to restrain Russian and Chinese aggression (the list is endless). What does it say about the MAGA mind that his cult focuses on the Epstein files but ignores everything else?
Maria Grant says
Wilson, thanks for writing. You make some great points. I too am perplexed on why the MAGA base is obsessed with the Epstein files and is not focusing on all Trump’s other promises.
Jerry Jordan says
While I agree that the crowd may be making him angry, I believe you meant to say that Trump was trying to calm the madding crowd. His only option with a maddening crowd would be to try and calm himself down.