Through his narcissism, mendacity, greed, ignorance, misogyny, racism, anti-democracy, un-Americanism, and sociopathy, Donald Trump has inadvertently begun a process that could Make America Great. Trump has galvanized most Americans to push for progressive reforms and policies that could ultimately usher in a new era of prosperity, equality, environmentalism, and (one hopes) a UNITED States of America.
In the spring of 2016, during the presidential primaries, I bought a wig and began doing a pretty piss-poor impersonation of Donald Trump. I put some vids up on YouTube, but it was mostly just friends and family watching. The whole thing was a lark — there was no way this clown could actually be elected, right? That fall, I went as Trump to a Halloween party where I wasn’t the only Trump — a few days later the nightmare became reality.
My silly parody of a silly man suddenly felt chillingly morbid. Trump, so obsessed with wealth that he had gold-painted toilets in his airplanes, and even paints himself gold. But he is no Midas — in fact, he is the anti-Midas, with virtually everything he touches turning to shit.
I conceived of a new comedy series in which Donald Trump’s long-banished shoulder angel has returned to help guide the infantile president through his term. Much to my wife’s chagrin, I bought a white suit, some angel wings, a halo, and gold spray paint, and went to work. Again, though, whether it was my mediocre writing and acting, or the YouTube gods didn’t will it, only a handful of folks watched the videos.
I am now hopeful that this tragicomic saga is coming to an end. I am ready to retire (or burn) the wig. Angel Trump has returned one more time to assess the legacy of President Trump, and you may be surprised to hear that there is a silver (gold?) lining to what was a debacle of a presidency.
Among others, these are ten ways that Donald Trump has inadvertently begun a process that could truly make America great:
- Donald Trump is an alleged serial sexual assaulter who routinely singles out women as “nasty,” “horsefaced,” “fat pigs,” ad nauseam. His policy positions are anti-choice and anti-women. From his inauguration onward, his misogyny galvanized a huge movement against sexual abuse and sexual harassment (#MeToo) and resulted in historic wins for women in congress in the 2018 elections.
- From discriminating against potential Black tenants to calling for the death penalty for five falsely accused Black and Latino teens to dog whistling white supremacists, the self-described “least racist person ever” is quite the opposite. Black Lives Matter has gained massive support and traction as a result.
- Trumpworld believes in alternative facts; this is an anti-reality, anti-science based world in which up is down. Trump’s shambolic handling of the coronavirus pandemic is part of a pattern in which he eschews expertise and science. With over 220,000 Americans dead, the populace is yearning for order, crying out for institutions and policy that is informed by and respects science.
- In a similar vein, Trump has repeatedly attacked the Affordable Care Act, resulting in millions losing their health care. This has highlighted the need for policy that creates even more affordable health care for all.
- Trump’s ludicrous calls to build the wall, his delirious ranting against immigrants, and his separation of immigrant children from their families has provided the impetus to institute fair and sane immigration policy.
- Trump vowed to drain the swamp — unsurprisingly, he has actually dived right in, releasing a foul miasma over the country. Americans are fed up with this malodorous swindling — we are emboldened to pull the plug on unfettered money in politics.
- If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying. That seems to be Donald Trump’s motto when it comes to fiscal (and really all) matters, especially his taxes. And his tax cuts for the wealthy belied his populist messaging. His excesses have exposed the ways in which our system exacerbates inequality and favors the wealthy.
- Millions of illegal immigrants are voting for Democrats, and mail-in ballots are rife with fraud (even though I vote this way). These are just two of the multifarious lies Trump has spouted to delegitimize voting. Falsehoods about voter fraud, in addition to gerrymandering and outright voter suppression, reveal that Trump and Republican politicians are no longer interested in democracy. But this is backfiring, as record numbers of Americans are persevering in voting.
- The Supreme Court has become a partisan tool of the right. This was not the intention of the Founders. The blatant hypocrisy of Trump and Republicans on Capitol Hill has debased the Judicial Branch. Americans recognize the need to reform the system to better reflect and serve the populace.
- The next decade is critical when it comes to the existential threat of climate change. Donald Trump has been actively dismantling our already-inadequate policies to address climate change. The world cannot afford another four years of this. In spite of Trump’s planet-destroying agenda, climate-friendly technology continues its exponential march forward. Trump’s draconian record on climate change may have even drawn more attention to the dire need for action.
In short, Donald Trump is an accelerant who has energized the majority of Americans who want to see our country providing opportunities for all to thrive, uniting in our purpose, and cooperating on the world stage to save the planet.
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