Throughout his campaign, Trump has spent his time in front of crowds justifying his penis size, boasting about what a “winner” he is, and encouraging fear, violence, hatred, and nationalism. After a man was attacked at a recent rally, Trump responded asking, “Is there anywhere more fun to be than at a Trump rally?”
The Republican nominee for POTUS is clueless when it comes to domestic or foreign policy, thinks Vladimir Putin is a “great leader,” and is still confused why bombing other nations as a response is a problem. And yet, his poll numbers continue to rise. In a nation that claims “Christian” values, one must ask, how can this be? How could we possibly elect Donald Trump as the next President of the United States?
As Ingrid Holmquist explains, “Trump’s language is one of the things that make his campaign so popular to many: It’s not politician-like and is anti-establishment. Many of his supporters praise these traits.”
This has been the theme of his candidacy. Appealing to the public through “showmanship,” Trump has turned the presidential race into the ultimate reality show. Through one liners, insults, and fear mongering Trump has successfully created a smokescreen that has concealed – to some – his own inability to think critically, much less lead a nation. Sadly, those who support “The Donald” haven’t figured out that his campaign in based on trumpery defined as deceit, fallacy, and although showy, of little value.
Trump’s refusal to respond to questions on policy is not new. Although sometimes rather than flat out refusing, he fumbles through responses like a child who didn’t finish his homework but is trying to convince the teacher otherwise.
Thanks to George Takei for demonstrating this so eloquently in his recent Facebook Post.
“I have to say a lot of people have been asking this question. No, really. A lot of people come up to me, and they ask me. They say, ‘What’s 2+2’? And I tell them, look, we know what 2+2 is. We’ve had almost eight years of the worst kind of math you can imagine. Oh, my God, I can’t believe it. Addition and subtraction of the 1s the 2s and the 3s. It’s terrible. It’s just terrible. Look, if you want to know what 2+2 is, do you want to know what 2+2 is? I’ll tell you. First of all the number 2, by the way, I love the number 2. It’s probably my favorite number, no it is my favorite number. You know what, it’s probably more like the number two but with a lot of zeros behind it. A lot. If I’m being honest, I mean, if I’m being honest. I like a lot of zeros. Except for Marco Rubio, now he’s a zero that I don’t like. Though, I probably shouldn’t say that. He’s a nice guy, but he’s like, ‘10101000101,’ on and on, like that. He’s like a computer! You know what I mean? He’s like a computer. I don’t know. I mean, you know. So, we have all these numbers, and we can add them and subtract them and add them. TIMES them even. Did you know that? We can times them OR divide them, they don’t tell you that, and I’ll tell you, no one is better at the order of operations than me. You wouldn’t believe it. So, we’re gonna be the best on 2+2, believe me.”
When questioned on ISIS, unable to offer a detailed strategy, Trump responded, “I will…quickly and decisively bomb the hell out of ISIS, will rebuild our military and make it so strong no one — and I mean, no one — will mess with us.”
When asked about his support for torturing and “taking out” the families of terrorists, Trump claimed that soldiers would commit such illegal acts under his orders; “They’re not going to refuse me, believe me, If I say do it, they’re going to do it.”
Personal attacks are a staple in Trump’s strategy to deflect questions and regain the attention of the public. He attacked Megyn Kelly for questioning his misogynistic comments by calling Kelly a “bimbo” and suggesting she was being aggressive because she was menstruating.
During the Fox News Michigan debate, when pushed for a response on foreign policy by Marco Rubio, Trump responded by saying that everyone in Florida hates “Little Marco” and he wouldn’t be elected as a “dog catcher.” Trump never responded to the question on foreign policy.
And it is with these ridiculous responses that Trump has mesmerized a nation lacking the ability to think critically. Refusing to respond while entertaining the masses; it is trumpery in full effect.
This fact is not lost on the Republican Party. Many have been clear that they will not vote for Trump. Former presidential candidate Mitt Romney stated that Trump is “a phoney, a fraud…His promises are as worthless as a degree from Trump University. He’s playing members of the American public for suckers.” And the GOP national security leaders issued an open letter opposing Trump’s candidacy calling him “fundamentally dishonest,” condemning his “hateful, anti-Muslim rhetoric,” call for increased use of torture, support for trade wars, and esteem for Vladimir Putin.
Likewise, nearly the entire Bush family has come out to announce that they will not vote for Trump. Although Jeb Bush says he will not vote in this election, his father and former President George H. W. Bush has been clear that his vote will go to Hillary Clinton.
Trump’s blatant inability to comment on domestic or foreign policy is alarming and he is yet to offer a realistic strategy that would lead to a successful presidency. As David Brooks points out, his campaign is a sham just like Trump University and Trump Mortgage. And a President Trump would be a debacle just like Trump Air, Trump Steaks, and Trump Vodka.
Nonetheless, a large segment of the American public appears hungry for the careless, politically uninformed, objectionable billionaire bully whose bid for the White House is an attempt to achieve the ultimate symbol of power. Through hate speech and stances that undermine actual American values, Trump has created a “new red scare” and many are buying into it hook, line, and sinker. He has successfully played on the fears of many allowing himself to climb in the polls – a similar factor that resulted in the rise of other fascist leaders, including Adolf Hitler.
Disturbingly, some Trump enthusiasts are unable to distinguish between statements by Trump and Hitler. Those who support his candidacy claim that Trump “tells it like it is,” is a successful businessman, and funds his own campaign. Perhaps they should review John Oliver’s response to these notions.
Trump has no experience and is clueless as to what the job of POTUS entails. Like the root meaning of his name, he is deceitful, showy but useless and has simply become the clown who has taken center stage in the circus built by American politics. With his “trumpfoolery” he has revealed a disturbing temperament in the nation while duping some Americans into believing a Trump presidency will mean a “reclaiming” of America using anti-American values.
If the trumpery of his campaign strategy is evidence of what a Trump presidency would look like, the US should be prepared for deceitful and dangerous commander in chief who will continue the “new red scare” and limit the freedom so many assume he will defend as an American right. As Louis CK said referring to Trump, “Don’t vote for your own cancer.”
Gina Messina, Ph.D. is an American feminist scholar, Catholic theologian, author, and activist. She is also Co-founder of Feminism and Religion. She writes for The Huffington Post, has authored multiple publications and is the co-editor of the highly acclaimed Faithfully Feminist: Jewish, Christian, and Muslim Feminists on Why We Stay. Messina is a widely sought after speaker and has presented across the US at universities, organizations, conferences and on national platforms including appearances on MSNBC, Tavis Smiley, NPR and the TEDx stage. She has also spoken at the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations to discuss matters impacting the lives women around the world. Messina is active in movements to end violence against women and explores opportunities for spiritual healing. Connect with her on Twitter @FemTheologian, Facebook, and her website ginamessinadysert.com.
feminismandreligion.com 
Actually it’s quite intelligent and by far extremely effective not to offer a “detailed strategy” on ISIS while speaking to the general public for it then gives the enemy your position and military moves
Ones strategy must be kept secret in order to win
As far as the Bush family members and others not voting for Trump…
This November 8th election is about one thing one vote one chance
AMERICANISM vs GLOBALISM
We have all known for a very long time that the Bush family has sold it’s soul to the Globalism elites all of course for the right price $$$
So have the others…also for the right price $$$
They have all sold the American People out of course all for the right price $$$
What you don’t seem to understand perhaps your hostility gets in your way is that a vote for Trump is a vote for Americanism
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The higher a monkey climbs a tree,
The more of his (rear) we get to see.
What a view thus far.
Trump calls to mind H.L. Mencken’s definition of a demagogue.
If your mind is not closed (as I think it is), you’ll look it up, hocus-pocus 13.
Trump’s slogan is “Make America Great Again.”
The United States of America is a great country with many problems.
Trump, however, can use some improvement.
When is he going to release his tax returns?
Has he even filed them?
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I think you are correct about Globalism buying Government. I don’t believe most governments are in control any longer. I see it here where resources and the common good are surrendered to Multi-National Corporations for their profit.
But I can’t imagine a more pliable puppet for global interests than a man without the habit of serious thought, action without concern for consequences (nuclear weapons, advocating war crimes) and the egocentric values of self interest. It’s not the people of the USA that Mr. Trump cares about, it is his own aggrandizement and glorification.
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The more I think about it, I have come to the conclusion that the only thing Trump is selling is the right of white American males to rule the world. His followers don’t care if he lies because he is shouting his white male rights and America first to high heaven.
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Trump, to me, represents patriarchy on steroids. We all live in that oppressive social system. To some degree or another, we’ve all absorbed patriarchal values. As you note, Gina, Trump has mesmerized a nation unable to think critically. His behavior, to many, seems “right” and “normal,” evidenced by the fact that so much of his outrageous behavior doesn’t “stick” to him. “It’s just Trump,” I’ve heard which is like saying, “Boys will be boys.”
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Interesting post, thanks Gina. Loved George Takei in Star Trek. In connection with his quote here, we had a joke when I was a kid, where we would ask what does 2 plus 2 mean, and the answer was 2 2 train. Trump is not serious either, and I think he actually knows that, it’s just a romp for him maybe. We need Hillary Clinton for our next President, that’s for sure.
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Jabbertrumpery
By Barbara Ardinger, Ph.D.
(with copious apologies to Lewis Carroll)
’Twas brillig, and the slimy Trump
Did strut and posture on TV:
All mimsy were conservatives,
And the listeners outgrabe.
“Beware the Jabbertrump, my son!
The hair that scares, the mouth so loud!
Beware the Narcissist, and shun
The frumious Trumpercrowd!”
We take our protest signs in hand:
And now the toxic foe we seek—
So rest we now outside the real estate,
And talk and yell, not meek.
And as the Trumperjet rolled up,
The Jabbertrump, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling down the tulgey steps,
And burbled as he came!
One, two! One, two! And forward came
The Jabbertrump with mouth a-roar!
He spun his spin and spoke again:
“I’ll make the deals forevermore!
“I’m always right, I’m very white,
Let’s remake our nation great,
I’ll sell red hats and stoke your fears
I won’t back down. I’ll speak of hate.”
And hast thou heard the Jabbertrump?
“All vote for me, you Trumperfolk,
Yell loud and let no Others in.
Then we ourselves will be great volk.”
’Tis brillig, and Conservatives
Do twist and turn in interviews.
All whiny are Republicans,
And we others watch the news….
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Barbara, I love your poem! That is awesome!
Gina, I totally agree with you and I thank you for this well-thought out post. Trump is scary and it is those who support patriarchy, especially the rule of white men, and those who can’t think critically who like him.
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I would like to post this on my blog. I would give you credits, tweet it, etc. This is fantastic.
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Trump’s rise seems to me to be a result of a planned and orchestrated attack on the freedoms America has bee working toward for her whole life. I believe it started with Reagan, maybe even Nixon with the destruction of public education, the removal on controls on the financial industry, the breaking up of unions – basically the unraveling of the whole social security net created under Roosevelt. And he uses racism which is still a very strong element in this country to fuel his fire.
Americanism vs Globalism – really??? Just take a look at Trump’s business practices and one can easily see that he boldly embraces the worst elements of Globalism.
Yes, we have many problems here and abroad – many caused by the global moneyed elite – Trump is NOT the answer.
If the true agenda of the global banking and corporate elites is to destroy America with our noisy and demanding middle class, then Trump is surely their answer. The Patriarchy is alive and well (unfortunately)
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I just watched a video of Trump supporters being interviewed. One blamed 9/11 on Obama for being on vacation too much, etc. This person did not even realize that Obama was not President then. One person admitted she had no facts whatsoever, no data, no nothing but said she did not care. These were all interviews at a Trump rally. It is a frightening video to watch.
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Trump’s inability to think critically mirrors that of the public at large. WE DON’T WANT TO THINK. If we did such a man wouldn’t be a candidate.
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