Think what you may of Donald Trump, but you must admit he is an entertainer. While much of what he says or writes these days is nonsense or scary, occasionally, usually unintentionally, he says or tweets funny, unexpected things.
Trump is especially creative at campaign rallies when the “shi**y” teleprompters malfunction and in posts on his failing social media site. Some of his more outrageous posts appear written to attract new subscribers to the ironically named “Truth Social.”
Almost every Trump social media post is, in a perverse way, interesting. How many criminal defendants ridicule judges, prosecutors, and the Department of Justice? What will Trump call the Democrats and Biden this week?
Entire books could be published consisting of nothing more than bizarre Trump quotes. Maybe Trump plans one such book himself. The revenues from sales could come in handy as judgments against him continue to mount. And at least some lawyers working for him must be paid. (If they are not, Trump could find himself in court again.)
And PhD candidates in psychology must be pouring over Trump’s musings for their doctoral theses. Expect major advances soon in the study of narcissism and other forms of sociopathy.
Thus, at least to some of us, Trump is weirdly engaging. Right? But the 2024 election is no joke, so in looking at Trump’s continuing string of strange musings, I ask, what is going on? Why say things that fuel the left-wing media? Things like telling a meeting of House Republicans, “Nancy Pelosi’s daughter is a whacko, her daughter told me that if things were different Nancy and I would be perfect together, there’s an aged difference though.”
Donald Trump also told rally attendees that the site of next month’s Republican convention is a “horrible city” overrun by crime. Why would Trump insult Milwaukee, a key city in one of the six states expected to decide the 2024 election?
Perhaps Trump’s strangest comment came at a recent campaign rally in Las Vegas. Trump talked about electric-powered boats and told his audience that the weight of the batteries would cause the boat to sink, exposing the passengers to sharks. He discussed the choice between getting electrocuted and being eaten by sharks. Trump said he would prefer electrocution. Interesting? Maybe to a psychiatrist.
I have been wondering why Trump regularly spouts nonsense. Isn’t there somebody, anybody in his campaign to tell him to cool it? If Trump’s mentor, lawyer Roy Cohn, were still around, he might whisper in Trump’s ear, “Donald, stop making a fool of yourself.”
One theory is that the 78-year-old ex-president is in mental decline and is losing self-control. Age, a poor diet, and the stress of multiple civil and criminal cases against him is taking a toll on his psyche.
Another theory is that by spouting nonsense, Trump weakens criticism of things like his embrace of racists, his criminal record, and, of course, his instigation of the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol. Trump’s call for his followers to come to Washington, including the promise, “it will be wild,” is excused as “Trump just being Trump” because he always says outrageous things. How can you assume he was serious in bringing the Proud Boys to Washington when he also rails against offshore windmills?
Trump’s followers dismiss some of what he says while accepting the rest as truth. Crowds at his rallies listen to tales of sharks and dinner with Hannibal Lector and giggle. But when he talks about rampant voter fraud, a weaponized Department of Justice, or suggests that the FBI wanted him assassinated, they take him seriously. Trump followers filter through Trump’s heap of nonsense to find the things Trump wants them to believe, the things that will help him regain the White House.
I recently reviewed comments received to several of my columns discussing Trump. Some readers regurgitate Trump’s claims verbatim. One writer, for example, reminded me that legal scholars cannot identify the crime Trump was found guilty of in New York.
It should not be a surprise that Trump followers, which include dozens of federal, state, and local elected officials, believe the 2020 election was stolen, that President Biden heads a “crime family,” and that Mexico and other countries empty their prisons to flood America with rapists and thugs. Trump has the ability to get otherwise intelligent people to believe absurd or dangerous things. You are not alone if you think Hitler had the same ability.
Trump has made the ludicrous normal and expected. He has convinced the least sophisticated voters that their votes matter while convincing the rest of us that democracy has its limits. Most importantly, Trump has demonstrated that political parties are not a safeguard against unfit or unqualified people winning the presidency and other elective offices. He also has raised the prospect of scrapping our entire Constitutional system in favor of a dictatorship.
Trump’s political career will someday be seen as an interesting era not for the good that resulted but for the damage done. Mussolini, Juan Peron, and other dictators were interesting in the same way.
Will enough voters come to see Trump for what he is by election day? I hope so, but it will not happen if more of us don’t stop talking about Trump with other people who already dismiss him and start convincing others to take a closer look. And it will not happen if people choose not to vote because they see Biden as too old or conclude both candidates are unacceptable.
J.E. Dean is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant. He writes on politics, government, and, too infrequently, other subjects.
Matthew Guthrie says
Do you ever write about anything other than Donald Trump? It is sad that a man of your supposed caliber just can’t seem to get past your fixation with him.
Gerry Levin says
What an ignorant statement.
John Dean says
Thank you for your question. Yes, I do write about things other than Donald Trump. If you review my past Spy columns, you will see many that do not include the word “Trump.”
Why am I writing so much about Trump? I am not reconciled to Trump’s role in the January 6, 2021 assault on the Capitol. I am deeply disturbed that Trump calls the rioters (I call them insurrectionists) patriots. I am outraged at Trump’s promise to pardon many of the “patriots.”
I also have listened to recent Trump speeches and read recent social media posts. I believe Trump is mentally ill and unfit to be president.
Despite what I see as indisputable evidence that Trump is unfit for office, he still enjoys public support. My columns are intended to alert anyone with an open mind as to who Trump is and why he should not be president.
jane Bollman says
Hitler said if you tell people the same thing enough eventually they will believe it. Trump is taking a page out of his book, which is certainly scarey.
Barbara Denton says
Jane, I am surprised at you.
John Dean says
Thank you for your comment. I agree with you.
Rebecca F. Gaffney says
Matthew:
You took the words right out of my mouth! Bravo!
Barbara Denton says
Amen.
Wilson Dean says
It is important that we continue to read your articles on Donald Trump, not because he has much of value to say, but the possibility of his election this fall would signal a dramatic loss in this country of decency, democracy, and any hope for mutual respect among people who do not agree.
I agree that his more recent ramblings have taken on an even more incoherent and vicious tone. He would not be the first felon to buckle under the pressure of having his misdeeds and failures displayed on a daily basis in the courts.
What is more surprising to me, however, is that people choose to believe what he says. I use the word “choose,” because so much of what he says is simply untrue and even the most cursory of research would reveal his lies. Yet, as Simon and Garfunkel once sang, people hear what they want to hear and disregard the rest.” What a sad commentary on this group within our electorate.
John Dean says
As you know, I share your concerns about Mr. Trump and his more recent ramblings. Thank you for the comment.
Gerry Levin says
Trump is a moran. Period.
Hal De Bona says
Amen
John Dean says
I agree but I would insert “dangerous” before “moron.” Thank you for reading the piece.
Deirdre LaMotte says
With Trump, we have the most criminal President in history as well as the President who historians have rated the worst ever elected (https://amp.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/20/presidents-ranking:
trump-biden-list). On the other hand, we have Biden with his long list of accomplishments-1) ended the Covid pandemic via an aggressive vaccination program, 2) passed the Inflation Reduction Act that lowered inflation from the 9% to 3.2%, 3) passed the CHIPS Act to increase U.S. computer chip production, 4) expanded broadband so rural communities could access the Internet, 5) moved the economy away from fossil fuels to renewables to fight climate change damage/health risks, 6) reduced insulin prices for people on Medicare, passed the PACT Act for veterans, and 7) exited America from the 20-year quagmire in Afghanistan. Based on these achievements, historians rate Biden as 14th greatest President (reference above). If Americans are unable to even name 5 of Biden’s major accomplishments, then they truly are hopelessly ignorant, willfully ignorant and pray to the fake news gods of their choice. Ugh.
Barbara Denton says
Truth Social is not failing. Why would he quote what Nancy Pelosi’s daughter said if she did not say it? Were you there? I think not. When he spoke about Milwaukee, WI he was speaking of their “horrible” crime statistics.
If I had to pick between electrocution or being eaten by a shark, I would certainly choose electrocution. Please elaborate on what racists are being embraced by Trump. Again, I shall remind you he was convicted of a crime no one can name! Please let us all know what the crime was! He did not instigate the problem on January 6. I think you should look to the FBI and paid instigators for that dubious honor. It was not an insurrection.
We have been subjected to rampant voter fraud. Voter rules were changed without legislative authority. I am the reader who reminded you that legal scholars cannot identify the crime that Trump was found guilty of in NY. The rapists ,murderers, drug smugglers and thugs Biden has allowed into our Country through open borders and flights taxpayers have paid for are real. So far the murderers and rapists we know about except Kate Steinle’s killer were not from Mexico.
He has not said Democracy has its limits. We are a Representative Republic. Biden is the perfect example of an unfit and unqualified crooked politician being run by a political party to the detriment of our beloved Country. Biden’s actions of the past few months including this week, show who wants to scrap our entire Constitutional system. We are already in a semi-dictatorship. Biden’s re-election will seal the deal.
Your previous article last week was obnoxious, full of lies and a textbook case of TDS. I responded to your question about my opinion of your ability to tell the truth. The Spy did not publish my response.
John Dean says
Thank you for reading my piece. As we know, I have a different definition of TDS than you do, and I have been doing my best to cure anyone suffering from it.
Your comment repeats your standard defense of Trump, which is based in part on attacking President Biden. I won’t respond to your list except for your claim that the ironically named “Truth Social” is not failing.
On Tuesday, the stock dropped 9%. It now sells for less than half of what it did when it went public. The company lost $327 million in the first quarter of 2024.
Although you regularly call me a liar, I hope you did not buy stock in Truth Social.
Barbara Denton says
It would be difficult to not attack President Biden in response to your article as you accuse Trump of exactly what Biden is doing. I went down through the list of all of your accusations against Trump and refuted many of your statements.
Trump had no role in creating the January 6 incident. What you are worried about is the truth coming out as to who really caused it. The truth will come out and it is not going to be pleasant.
I did not buy stock in Truth Social. However, stocks go up and down. A one day drop does not indicate the long term value of a stock. Your wishing does not make it so.
Jerry McConnell says
It’s time for Ms Denton to admit that she’s just like her hero Donnie Trump in many ways. Among them are a proclivity for making statements that are both incorrect and absurd; spontaneous rants about President Biden and his family that are knowingly just plain false ( and wouldn’t be repeated by anyone but an idiot), unfounded assertions of conspiracies and false claims about his accomplishments that have been confirmed to be just as bogus as his claim to an I Q over 70.
And, yes, he can honestly be described as an entertainer; he’ll say anything to draw attention to himself, and everything to deflect attention away from his multiple failed business ventures, bankruptcies, felony indictments, and convictions, and accusations of sexual assault. What a hero!
I’m sure Ms Denton looks at Trump’s resume with admiration, if not with any level of serious comprehension. Like most of his loyal followers, blind acceptance —and admiration—of his disgusting behavior is confirmation of one’s moral, ethical and intellectual shortcomings.
Barbara Denton says
Wow! I must have struck a chord with you to bring on your rant. Thank you so much for your compliments on my morality, ethics and intellectual shortcomings along with my being an idiot.
I have always found when someone is reduced to name calling and questioning another person’s opinion with insults and name calling they are at a loss to be able to prove my statements false.
The only disgusting behavior I see here are your insulting statements. I certainly would put my IQ and the Donald’s up against yours any day. Bring it on!
Mickey Terrone says
Hi John. I trust that you will continue to articulate how Trump’s election would constitute a catastrophe because of his abysmal lack of integrity, miserable personal character and unforgivably heinous crimes against the United States, including serious national security breaches and trying to overturn the 2020 election.
It seems to me you might want to examine how and why some people are willing to maintain their blind support. How can these people ignore Trump’s grevious crimes? How can christians ignore Trump’s guilt over assaulting E. Jean Carroll, especially so-called Christian women? If it was their mom or sister or daughter that Trump assaulted, they’d be howling to jail him. Do these alleged Christians simply not care about others? Some of his supportetrs appear to be completely delusional in their denials of the mountains of evidence that resulted in his guilty verdicts.
Are these people not falling into the category of “accomplices” to Trump’s bald faced lies? Have these people forgotten our Constitution, our democratic republic and our American traditions of governance? What do these people think our US veterans died to protrect? Are they just playing stupid?
John Dean says
Mickey: Thanks. Good suggestion. Possibly next week (this week is in draft already).