Ignominious Idiot
On Saturday night Donald Trump posted a video to his failing social media platform “Truth” Social called “Trump’s Virtues Part II.” I’m unclear on where Part I is. Maybe the title is an abbreviation for Part Ignominious Idiot. But that introduces a fresh mystery: What is the other part?
Anyway, this oxymoronic videography is narrated by Tom Klingenstein of the rightwing nutjob “think tank” Claremont Institute. It’s a tedious rant about the “woke radicals” (i.e., people who believe in science and equality) led by the globalists (i.e., Jews).
Klingenstein, who self-identifies as a writer, playwright and investor, called on those who “can’t stand” Trump to support him anyway. Federal prosecutor Joyce Vance summarises this tripe well. “This is an utterly astonishing message for a candidate for the presidency to embrace. And, just a clue, it’s not about virtues,” she said. “It starts with a command — even if you can’t stand Trump, you must get behind him. Has any candidate ever run like that? It gets worse.
“[The video says that] GOP voters shouldn’t care if he’s a conservative, a role model for children, or modest [and] dignified — I suppose that’s a good message because Trump is none of the things quite obviously. The tone [and] pacing of the video carries an echo of WWII fascism that makes me feel queasy,” Vance continued. One commenter said the video was so ridiculous it looks like something out of SNL.
Whether Klingenstein knows it or not the video is really a tract on sociopathy. Klingenstein stands at stiff attention and narrates in an irritating monotone with glazed eyes half closed. “[Trump] is a businessman,” Klingenstein lies. Of Trump’s MAGA acolytes Klingenstein says, “they love him, and they know he loves them.” You could plausibly substitute Kim Jung un in a North Korean propaganda video in place of Trump and conclude essentially the same message.
But the truth of the matter is Trump is a lousy businessman who hates his base. He bankrupted six businesses and now he’s practically bankrupted himself. He wouldn’t be caught dead spending any real time with any of his adoring supporters. Trump is the quintessential privileged elite who looks down on everyone else. His MAGA base is composed of cretins, stooges, losers and Dunning Kruger poster boys and girls. Trump has nothing but contempt for them.
The central message of the video is that Democrats are “the Enemy” who hate America. Trump, on the other hand, loves America. I guess that’s why he tried to overturn a free and fair election, threatened to tear up the Constitution, and now promises to install himself as dictator if re-elected. For anyone who believes this Goebbels-esque propaganda bullshit, I’ve got a bridge in lower Manhattan for sale. And, as ever, ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters, comrades and friends, stay safe.
Robert Harrington is an American expat living in Britain. He is a portrait painter.