When Donald Trump was first elected back in 2016, it felt like a bad joke that went just way too far. I never took Trump seriously, dating back to the 1980's. He always seemed like a farcical figure to me. It seemed like a clearcut case of him being a known con artist, and I had assumed that most people understood as much.
Clearly, I was mistaken.
Still, a part of me almost expected someone to come along and say that this all was a cruel joke. That someone like Trump could not possibly have been elected and would not be permitted to defile the Oval Office. But he was allowed to do exactly that - twice now.
The thing is, my perspective changed. While there was a surreal feeling after he was first elected and then first actually assumed power, I began to feel differently. Not about him. I still always viewed him as a joke and not worthy of being taken seriously. I still feel that he does not deserve to be taken seriously. In fact, I am more convinced than ever that neither he nor the movement he represents deserve to be taken seriously.
However, I came to understand, and reluctantly to accept, that he was symbolic of a dark aspect of the American character. That he represented an extreme and exaggerated version of a less savory part of the people of the United States, collectively.
Now, I feel that Trump is, in fact, very symbolic of where we as a country are, frankly. That there might be no other single person who better represents that certain side of the American people. He is almost comical, with his painted on tan and ridiculous hair, all reinforcing a frankly fake image. Here is a man who was born with a gold-leafed spoon in his mouth. For all intents and purposes, he won the lottery simply by being born as Donald Trump. His family was extremely wealthy and had the right business connections. Also, how can you fail to capitalize on some level with a last name like Trump?
Then look at his extensive and well-documented history of being a con artist. Sorry, but there's no kind way of saying it. You have to call it out for what it was. His history is one filled with all sorts of scams and making his wealth out of screwing other people. From shortchanging contract workers - knowing full well that they did not have the financial means to challenge him in court, with all of this high-priced, powerful lawyers - to all of the ridiculous scams which should have warned everyone that this man was a huckster, a snake-oil salesman. From Trump University to Trump Steaks to Trump Water to Trump Vodka to Trump Magazine to Trump Airlines, it was ridiculous scam after another. Plus, remember, the guy declared bankruptcy six times, and reimagining that so that it helped his image, making it seem admirable that he knew how to manipulate the system to his advantage even in bankruptcy (wouldn't it have been taxpayers he was screwing all along?). I guess we might need to give credit where it's due, he did keep getting money from all of these scams. Still, his actual history of running businesses is less than impressive. I mean, how does anyone go bankrupt while running a casino, which is as close to a foolproof (or almost foolproof, apparently) system of making money that exists?
So of course his political career was going to reflect that con artist history. Just as he had done in the business world, he overpromised and underdelivered as a politician. That much is undeniable, if you have an ounce of objectivity and honesty and intelligence. Unless you actually believe that he built the wall and made Mexico pay for it. Or built thar healthcare system which would be affordable and would cover everyone. Or paid off the national debt in eight years (instead of adding trillions and trillions to it, as he did). Or got the world to stop laughing at the United States and respect it, as he himself became an object of ridicule and relentless scorn the world over, and was even laughed at to his face during a major speech at the United Nations, with the whole world watching. Or that he would be the greatest job creating president in history, when the reality reflected something much, much different. And all of that was just the first term.
Now for his second act, Trump once again overpromised and underdelivered. Did he lower the price of groceries? Nope. Did he lower gas prices? Not much, and whatever progress was made in that was undone by the war he launched with Iran. Speaking of which, he also promised not to get the United States involved in any foreign wars, and instead has gotten us involved in Venezuela and now Iran, while threatening military action (or to put it another way, war) with Colombia, Cuba, Greenland, Gaza, and Mexico. He promised to end the war in Ukraine within 24 hours, and utterly failed. Finally, he promised to release the Epstein Files, and instead has gone to such extraordinary lengths to prevent them from being released, or to cover up so much of what's in the files, that almost everyone agrees that these are the actions of a guilty man. One prominently and deservedly mentioned very often in the Epstein Files.
Once a con artist, always a con artist.
And yet, for a combination of reasons, many members of the Mindless MAGA Moron Cult still support him. Some support him now more than ever. Everything is going wrong with his presidency, and they are doubling down, insisting that this man is a patriotic hero and a the defender of Christianity and Western civilization. That despite literally threatening to end an entire civilization and ending that message with "Praise be to Allah!" on Easter Sunday, and then following that up this past weekend with an image of himself as Jesus healing the poor and the sick.
Ridiculous.
So what are members of MAGA actually getting from all of this?
Well, the main thing that they seem to be getting is what Lyndon B. Johnson warned about many years ago, before I was even born. Trump is giving them permission to hate and to feel justified, even righteous, in that hatred. He is making them feel comfortable with their prejudices, as Rosalyn Carter once suggested of Reagan supporters. That is even more true with Trump. In fact, Trump actively encourages them to hate all of those perceived as outsiders, from "illegals" to "elites" to "libtards" to, increasingly, the whole rest of the world. Let's face it: all of this apparently has quite the appeal for many Trump supporters.
So with all of that in mind, just in case there are any Trump supporters reading this (you never know), here are a couple of posts I recently encountered on Facebook which point out exactly what their man promised, and the reality after he has had years in office. No wall, no stimulus checks. No drained swamp (in fact, the swamp is messier and more out of control than ever).
All we have is a man in charge who looks increasingly unwell and unhinged, and who just got us into yet another seemingly disastrous war in the Middle East.
Becky Roberts Facebook page 30 March, 2026:
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10242969659594721&set=a.10202826359797315
Kevin McCracken Facebook page - 9 April at 12:46 ·
MAGA FOOLS
NO DOGE CHECK
NO STIMULUS CHECK
NO 1776 CHECK
NO TARIFF CHECK
YES GAS IS UP
YES FOOD COST IS UP
YES RENT IS UP
MAGA FOOLS
https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=10231709416351068&set=gm.2443105793178091&idorvanity=1844959942992682
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