Our fight, it is no exaggeration to say, is the civilized world’s fight. It is a fight for reason and comity in the affairs of nations, against an administration whose worldview, and behaviour, is increasingly that of an aggressive dictatorship, in all its crudeness and its thuggery.
Mr. Trump, as the Prime Minister has said, aims to “break us,” a phrase with historic echoes. He has to now, or others will follow our lead. If he succeeds, then the world will be governed by nothing but force in the end, in trade as in other matters. But if we prevail, then “broad and sunlit uplands” must surely await.
I never understand when people, including ones opposed to him, say Trump has charisma. Is a raging toddler charismatic? Do I just have a different definition of charisma than everyone else?
I think a big part of it is the image of wealth and success he’s cultivated. The tacky gold shit everywhere, always wearing a suit unless he’s golfing, and so on. People with no taste see that and find it attractive and want in.
Strip all that away and he’s a used car salesman or blowhard at the end of the bar who won’t shut the fuck up.
My theory: In the leadup to the 2024 election, Trump got invited to the Republican debates, and he was basically like “fuck no, I’m not debating those losers, I’m obviously the Republican candidate,” and in doing so made it true. This is the kind of charisma he has; he’s simple and egotistical and it appeals to other simple, egotistical people. He refuses to follow rules and that appeals to other rulebreakers.
Oh he has told them how great they are and they fall for it.
He told them that their hatred was righteous
Tell an ignorant simpleton that, and they’ll love you forever, just so long as they can keep hating