We’re going to have Donald Trump around for a while, which prompts the question: What is the Trump Phenomenon? Or, to put it more critically, what do his candidacy and his success so far tell us about the state of the nation?
Trump’s campaign has stunned America’s political establishment. It is no longer unimaginable that Trump could win the GOP nomination — doubtful, but not unimaginable.
Trump is in a commanding position. He won South Carolina’s Republican primary without difficulty Saturday, capturing one-third of the total votes. This win puts him at a great advantage over his competitors.
Trump’s appeal is simple — he speaks his mind. The “worse” he gets, it seems, the more well liked he becomes. Watching Trump is ultimately cringe worthy, yet Americans can’t help but wonder: what will he say next? Along the campaign trail, Trump has said many things that have raised more than a few eyebrows. A few that stand out are his comments on immigration and Muslims.
First, Trump sparked outrage among Mexicans and Latinos. “When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best,” Trump said during his presidential announcement, “They’re not sending you. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They’re rapists. And some, I assume, are good people,” he added with some uncertainty. Following the recent shootings in San Bernardino, Trump stated in a press release that he “is calling for a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States until our country’s representatives can figure out what is going on.”
Obviously, Trump will never be accused of being P.C. While avoiding offensive behavior is what brings people and communities together, modeling our behavior after Trump’s would only lead to tearing communities apart. Trump doesn’t try to hide what he truly thinks. How he gets away with it is the real mystery. Though some commentators have suggested that he’s tapping into people’s anger and frustration. People feel that ordinary politics from Washington D.C. has bypassed them; the jobs have gone, the hope has gone, and now along comes Donald Trump, whose strong message resonates with them.
Trump is funny and maybe worth a twitter follow for the pure entertainment value. However, if Trump were really elected it would not be a laughing matter. Donald Trump, in my opinion, appeals to fear and anger, but not hope. I have confidence and faith that America can do better than Donald Trump. The last thing America needs is to hand the podium over to a bully and a fear monger, especially one who is so truly feeble. It is not beyond me to state that Donald Trump would be a political disaster.
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