The Real Genius of Donald Trump

At every step of the way, pundits and political foes said that the Trump “act” wouldn’t play. Following are the standard charges raised against Trump. For better or worse, here’s how he proved them wrong.

1. Trump has no substance. Critics say Trump is ignorant. Worse, he is unwilling to learn. But his audience is unconcerned. They respond to Trump’s attitude, his defiance of norms.

2. Trump is a privileged son of wealth, a hypocrite selling himself as a representative of the downtrodden and disrespected. In fact, Trump was always disrespected by New York’s upper social, political, and business class. He still is. That is what draws his key political audience to him: people who feel disrespected like him.

3. Trump won’t gain the support of a majority of Americans. True, but he nonetheless was elected president from a strong minority base. Now, having lost the presidency with the same base, he has nonetheless created a national political movement.

4. Trump disregards American political norms. True, and with what consequences for American democracy we have yet to reckon. However, by communicating directly with his base he controls the grassroots of the Republican Party. Do you remember how pundits and opponents used to decry, and still do, his Tweets? Yet, as a result of the success of his approach, almost no elected Republican dares oppose him.

5. Trump has no actual desire to govern the United States. True, and this has caused problems we have been forced to reckon with; a worsening pandemic, for one. Instead of governing effectively, Trump craves attention, which adoring audiences happily provide him. And this group is largely unconcerned with the results of his failure to govern effectively, which they see as irrelevant to them.

6. Trump uses his office for personal and financial gain. True. His political supporters’ reaction? See No. 5.

As a political force, Trump has simply built on No. 4. That is, he didn’t gain enough votes to be re-elected. But by arousing his base and pressuring state and legislative Republicans, he has seriously challenged the centuries-old presidential election and certification process. Although there is almost no chance that he can parlay this approach into retaining the presidency, it will certainly make him the most prominent political force in the U.S., other than the president. But Biden will have institutional power. Trump carries his power personally.

In these ways, Trump has redefined running for office, the job of president, the presidential election process, and American democracy. We have yet to see what consequences this carries for the country. But that this has been a sheer act of original political genius we cannot doubt.