Donald Trump has won a bet, perhaps with himself, that a grandiose ego can transcend the world of the business deal and reach the level of nation-dealing. As a sole qualification for being president of the U.S., not to mention his being a white male of a privileged background, this is very slim. Yet, one could point to the refined education and style of ex-president Obama, and lament that someone so intelligent who gained the trust of the pro-peace electorate (and the Nobel committee) kept the wars going instead of ending them.
But Trump seems to have a complex world view, and apart from whatever good he might do there is a worrisome Reaganite knee-jerk right wing tendency. Reagan took down the solar panels off the roof of the White House as soon as he was installed, while Trump began dismantling Obamacare. Both actions were taken without suitable alternatives, and done as if there was a mandate.
However, when Trump's Inaugural ceremony is a flop compared to hundreds of thousands of protesters turning out in DC and many other cities even outside the U.S. -- totalling millions -- the "mandate" never was, especially when we recall the low voter turnout that allowed his victory in November. More important, perhaps the mass awakening that most activists only daydream about is upon us already. Shown below is the Women's March turnout in Austin, a surprisingly typical scene in large U.S. cities on Saturday.
We can draw upon psychology as a discipline to understand what Trump intends to do, based on what he has done in the past. And that is, doing and saying whatever he likes, with no consequences. The aspect of “little boy,” enjoying mischief as a spoiled child who would never be corrected, is evident. “Pussy grabbing” must appeal to a segment of aggressive male youth that sees females as sex objects or targets for misplaced rage. On the intellectual level, Trump’s speech forms are heavily colloquial and boyish; big on childlike repetition. While endearing to some who were put off by the standard speech of Obama, Sanders, and Clinton, it makes one wonder if Trump is able to read a serious non-fiction book with ease. But hey, some well-read people have been very dangerous!
We are in a very temporary period of White House and federal government “acquaintanceship,” rather than a honeymoon, for Trump and his climate-denying, pro-corporate, militaristic crew. The “outsider” label does sort of apply, but it would have been much more true if Sanders had won and brought into the executive branch many a radical activist. Trump is of the 1%, religiously so, with a loose cannon image. So, today is the celebration of Little Boy Trump, and he does deserve a cigar and being called Mister President — for a short time, until seriousness starts falling around the new administration’s heads, and avalanches of criticism and legal actions gather momentum.
Reality sets in. As if there are not enough crises, more will materialize and land on Trump’s plate. He may shovel it off to the side and sleep until noon as Reagan did, but whether Trump is hands-on or not isn’t the issue. The interesting question is what happens next, when people get a better idea what they voted for (or didn’t vote at all). I don’t foresee a popular uprising, but I’ve been wrong before on this — I witnessed the Battle of Seattle against Bill Clinton’s WTO meeting, and Occupy Wall Street; I was only convinced of these movements’ power after they got going. So, assuming that a sustained political opposition to force Trump to honor American values of peace and protecting the environment is not in the offing, what might be ahead?
The mass awakening in store for the U.S. public, as the realization grows regarding Trump’s missteps and glossed-over notions of reform — reform against reforms — may be about how a man should relate to his fellow man, to women, to communities of color, and nature itself. It does not take a genius to picture Trump’s wife and daughters grating under The Donald’s crass sexism. That is only one level needing improvement for him and anyone who puts himself or herself into his presidential shoes for a moment — and we all do this. At this point, Trump is a big question mark. Does he really care to defang NATO and stop threatening Russia? Would he bring the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria to some kind of closure, at least for the U.S. (and its client states)? If so, would other actions serve to disappoint and harm, so as to offset any progressive moves?
Any proposed action on the international stage that is not well thought out, such as moving the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, is seen as impetuous rather than a Neocon act of war. Whichever it is, Trump’s individual style is stamped on the move, raising questions as time goes on, as the novelty of a fresh face in the White House begins to wear.
Turn21 is a movement to encourage people to grow up as world citizens: to turn 21 years old, or reach maturity, and act accordingly. The 21st of each month, in this 21st century, presents another opportunity to discuss and take action for our home planet. It seems that Trump has given Turn21 a huge opportunity to take its message to millions of people, when they begin to see the election of Donald Trump as a farce that went too far. Really, fuck the environment?
If the nation and the world are stuck with Trump for at least four years, at least something can be learned, perhaps now. And each thoughtful man can rise above both the Trump in the White House and the inner Trump. To not honor women is unthinkable to a majority of people, but an aberration is sitting in the White House at this moment. One’s inner Trump will soon be seen as needing to be brought under responsible control, or tossed out, if one has sincere qualms about the new president. What Trump's ascendancy has shown us is that we need to exorcise outmoded, childish belligerence and selfishness, as a very troubled nation must move ahead to solve urgent global problems as a partner instead of always lurching for “full spectrum dominance.” As President John F. Kennedy consistently urged with his remarkable eloquence and effectiveness, it is time for the U.S. to in effect grow up and be part of the world as a positive member of the community of nations.
* * * * *
Further reading:
Grow up, America! - Sept. 11th analyzed in Jungian terms, by Cal Simone, September 2006, for Culture Change
