Why the Trump show is such fantastic entertainment
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Re: “A terrifying lurch away from traditional American tolerance”, Letters, March 17.
Should one be terrified of Donald Trump? I don’t think so.
First, his campaign has been lively and entertaining. In marketing, there’s no such thing as bad publicity – exposure is the aim. And, with outlandish remarks and insults, Trump has certainly hit the target. The unorthodox campaigning has caused seasoned politicians to underestimate him.
Second, he’s gratified working Americans with assurances that, on his watch, the likes of China, Japan and Vietnam would never steal US jobs again – conveniently ignoring the benefits of world trade that he should have learned at Wharton Business School.
Third, having gained a footing as the likely Republican nominee, he is now presenting himself as magisterial and a unifier of his party, cleverly shifting his stance from obnoxious individual to loveable politician. Listening to him offers an education in talking one’s way into the White House.
Fourth, though Japan is helping fuel fears of Trump becoming president, China’s Premier Li Keqiang has expressed indifference, “because the underlying trend of China-US relations will not change”. Now that is a man speaking from experience as a peer of US leadership.
Fifth, no matter how autocratic President Trump’s behaviour, it would be checked by the constitutional availability of impeachment. (Remember Richard Nixon?)
Finally, comfort can be taken from the experience of Ronald Reagan, who was dismissed as a B-grade movie actor during his presidential campaign. When he left the White House a decade later, his public approval rating was 68 per cent, a figure matched only by Franklin Roosevelt and Bill Clinton. Right now a similar triumph for Trump looks unlikely, but this is a man full of surprises.
In the meantime, we outside observers get to witness the excitement generated by a deeply divided US electorate, which should last until November 8.
Songdej Praditsmanont
