Is Trump really that bad?

Question

I see lots of discussions here about trump

nightdrot · Accepted Answer

There have been worse, but Mr. Trump hardly ranks among the greatest Presidents. In no small measure because the paradox of Mr. Trump and "Trumpism" is that he - and it - are so disagreeable. This has an enormous appeal to his base voters. So while former President Trump does not have majority popular support, he does have an intense base of core supporters who will stick with him come what may.

Please note that Mr. Trump is a populist. The appeal of populism is that it rejects the "establishment" and view the "politicians" as "corrupt" and untrustworthy. The country has seen this before. William Jennings Bryan, H. Ross Perot, Patrick Buchanan, Bernie Sanders. These are not, contrary to popular belief, ideological figures but rather appeal to a cultural attitude of envy and resentment, particularly directed against those in power.

As noted, President Trump is in the populist tradition. In office he espoused elements that, historically speaking, had been seen in both parties. Anti-immigrant, tax the rich, anti-war. The list goes on and for Mr. Trump there is a bit of fortuitous timing.

Beginning in about the 1980s, the economy began a transition from a manufacturing/extractions based economy to a high tech/service economy. This has pushed aside those workers, particularly the lower middle class blue collar workers, who had traditionally thought of themselves as patriotic, church going, hard working and fair minded.

They had been Mr. Reagan's base in the 1980s. Hence the slogan at that time, "The Democrats made me middle class. The Republicans will keep me middle class." However, as the economy began to change, the need for the skills of the blue collar working class has begun to decline, with the result that they are experiencing higher unemployment, declining wages, rising suicide rates. rising addictions rates and a lowered lifespan. They have experienced a decline in living standards and they deeply resent being pushed aside.

Moreover, the Democrats, which used to be the party of the working man, is now appealing to the college educated upper middle class white collar worker. Thus did Mrs. Clinton speak of the "deplorables" and Mr. Obama spoke of them "clinging to guns and religion."

Such condescension, suffice to say, has not gone down well with the lower middle class and it is to this group that Mr. Trump appeals. He repays the "establishment" and the politicians with a seething contempt that is, to say no more, shared by the lower middle class.

This paradoxically leads to two contradictory outcomes, Actually President Trump's support has been remarkably constant. Hovering around the 47% mark since he was elected and - unusually - not much impacted one way or the other. When the economy was booming, Mr. Trump was at 47%. When the pandemic and impeachment hit - about the same.

This in contrast to, for example, former President Reagan. At his low water mark, the 1982 recession when the rate of unemployment hit 10.8% - until this pandemic induced recession, the highest of the post WWII era - Reagan dropped to 34%. Then the economy began to boom and by 1986, President Reagan hit an eye watering 71% approval.

That is the norm and in that sense former President Trump has defied gravity. Albeit at a level below majority support. He is not popular among the upper middle class because, unlike Reagan who was - as one writer put it, "the amiable king of the political jungle" - he offers them no olive branch, as it were.

Mr. Trump's record is somewhat more mixed than the question implies, though definitely better than Mr. Biden's. However, good or bad, people tend to resent those who "rub their noses in it," so to speak, and this Mr. Trump does with gusto.

Put simply, Mr. Trump is not more popular because he is, in a sense his own worst enemy. Unlike Mr. Reagan, has no capacity to reach beyond his base, and thus while controversial, he leaves no enduring policy legacy.

NamerOfStars · Accepted Answer

No. What Trump represents is a far more populist style of politics than either- any, actually- of the mainstream American parties are familiar with or want. Populism isn't actually a bad thing, though it can certainly lead to some. Trump's running for President is kind of like the UK leaving the EU; no one in charge that it would actually happen, so they didn't take it seriously- and the slander of those who support it/him is relentless. Was the UK bailing a good idea? Hard to say- what do you prioritize? There are definitely good aspects, and definitely bad ones, but to hear people talk about it, you'd think the one and only reason anyone would EVER vote "leave" is racism; they don't acknowledge any legitimate reasons at all. It's much the same with Trump.

What makes Trump's situation especially bad is this: in 1980, 90% of American media was owned by only fifty companies- there was talk of how dangerous it was to have that level of consolidation. Today, that same 90% is owned by SIX companies, and two of them are attempting to merge. Why is there no talk about the dangerous of that much more excessive level of consolidation? There is- but the media doesn't report on it, for obvious reasons. Now, despite what conservatives say, the American media isn't actually very liberal, but because so much of it is owned by, or owned by people allied with, the Democratic party, you pretty much only get one side of any given topic- look at the coverage of Covid, which continued pushing hysteria and panic LONG after it became clear the disease wasn't actually dangerous.

Trump isn't just dangerous to the current zeitgeist's hegemony because he's an outsider; he's exposed just how corrupted it's become; the most liberal Republican candidate, and almost the liberal major party candidate, in my lifetime gets tarred with the label "fascist", and it sticks. The guy who moved the US embassy to Jerusalem and helped his daughter convert to Judaism so she could marry a Jew is a Neo-Nazi. The guy who reopened the Iron Range and didn't take a salary as President (being the first whose net worth went DOWN during his time in office) is only in it for himself. The guy who wanted to take a disputed election to court and follow the rule of law is a dictator.

Donald Trump is a narcissistic blowhard who throws tantrums like a toddler and is completely unable to accept a legitimate defeat- the fact that he's STILL better than the alternatives should terrify anyone who's not trying to manipulate the country, and by extension, the world.

ApplePie409 · Accepted Answer

He's awesome. He might be a bit rough around the edges, but he knows how to run the world. Biden doesn't know what day it is.

MemeSupreme · Accepted Answer

ngl i never pay attention to our president unless he does something that means i lose money lol so couldn't tell ya

FunkyMonkee · Answer

Not at all bad! Joe is the bad one!! If you believe everything you see and hear in media, you're brainwashed or incredibly stupid and willfully blind!
You were hear during his previous term as President! Weren't we in MUCH better shape then than we are now? Did he actually DO any of the things the loony lefties claim he wants to do? He HAD the chance for 4 years and never did ANY of that stuff so, why would he, now? Why do you think people around the world want him as President, again? He made things great HERE and that rubbed off onto other countries and made THEIR shit great, too!! What has Joe done? Insanely increased inflation, started 3 wars, so far, allowed tons of people to be killed, refused to help Americans, gave us the worst economy we've ever had since the `30's, lied his wrinkled old ass off, stole truckloads of secret documents he was NEVER allowed to have, opened the borders and allowed who knows what kind of garbage into the country and allowed jailed, convicted criminals to walk the streets free, committing more crimes and murders while putting people that committed NO crimes INTO jail!!

Anonymous · Answer

The reason people are offended by Trump, is because he pushes the envelope of WHAT THEY REALLY ARE. He doesn't hide it, and Americans HATE honesty. He loves stupid people? He said that. People go😤😤😤😭😭😭😭. But they LOVE ACTING STUPID... they just don't want to be called that. He's a celebrity tv personality? Wait, wasn't Jerry Springer elected mayor of Cincinnati? What about Maury Povich? Heade a CAREER off of TV trailer trash nonsense, and people LOVED it. Americans LOVE being bullies, snotty, arrogant... they just don't want to be CALLED THAT. They don't want someone who shoves in their face WHAT THEY ARE. As far as the other divisive issues... Eric Garner, Ferguson Mo, Trayvon, the Dallas cops shot, BR cops shot, Freddie Gray, the kid in Cleveland, the Baltimore riots, Kaep kneeling... all of these happened from 08-15... NOT during his tenure. So if he's the sole cause of division in America... well golly gee... doesn't look like this was 1 big beacon of harmony BEFORE he got in there. People have selective memory. He's no saint, and pompous ASF... but the truth is... he's the mirror image of EXACTLY what most Americans themselves are like now-and being passive aggressive in denial doesn't change that.

mattthefatbat · Answer

Honestly no one's perfect or that much better than anyone else, and he is a person with thoughts just like anyone else, but I would never want to see a president in office that can't even pay respects to Americans that died during war. I never call anyone killed at war a loser especially not ones fighting for your own country, after he said that I just realized, I just can't see how anyone thinks trump actually wants what's best for America. So yeah after that I just don't see him as a good option.

Chazmatazz269 · Answer

He’s a typical rich, white asshole from the USA. But he’s not “evil”. He isn’t going to bring the end of the world, or the end of “democracy” as we know it.
It’s retarded and disgusting, but i get why the left is saying that nonsense. Maybe nobody else remembers the radical right saying Obama would bring the end of the world and the end of democracy. He was going to bring Sharia law to the US. Some radicals even suggested Obama was the anti-christ. Ell oh ell!
Now those dumb fucks are butthurt that the left is doing the same to their master. If you chuck a stone at someone, then bitch when they pick up the exact same stone and whip it back at you, you’re a piece of trash. Your vote shouldn’t matter anyway. I pray that someone develops a virus that wipes out everyone with an IQ below 130.

NaultD · Answer

I personally hate Don for his COVID non-response, resulting in 1,000,000 extra deaths. When natural disaster responses in the 21st century have had 200,000 deaths at most. Most of my Trump-loving family died from COVID, making me biased, but the thing is I can still vote freely.

I only have my brother left and he was closer to the family. Him and my dad making fun of me being too liberal and mom died the next day they started to give a damn. Why wait to give a single fuck when it's already it's too late?

ManInChains · Answer

No, he is not. People make him out to be bad when he isn’t. He is being treated as guilty until proven innocent with no real charges being brought up. People stick labels on him expecting people to believe it. No one is perfect, not even Trump, but at the same time you can’t possibly believe people hate him so much now when they loved him before he decided to even run in 2016.

normalice · Answer

No. He's just a normal incompetent and narcissistic mess. Probably every world leader is in that dirextion, thought trump is a but further than most. It's what he represents and the sort of people he relies on for support that turn him from failure to disaster - white christian nationalists, civil war advocates, nazis, people who want political violence in general, opportunists, grifters, money hoarders, power grabbing gatekeepers, the deluded, the irrational, the insecure.. most of this is optional and people are choosing it out of a sense of immediate self indulgence instead of thensort of long term self improvement that would help them in the long run. Thus is antithetical to civilization itself and that is what Trump supporters represent - a desire to return to being stupid monkeys.

Joshydavid25 · Answer

Nah, he was actually a pretty good president with what he was given.. Which TBH wasn't a lot. The career politicians were so embarrassed and disliked the fact that he became president so much, that they did and still try to do everything in their power to sabotage the man.. Yeah he was rude, boastful, made a lot of questionable past decisions, and wasn't the most elegant speaker, but he cared about the American people that's for sure..

Filthy_Immigrant · Answer

fuck no!

look at all the shit show we've had in the past 3.5 years under Biden, did we had that when he was president? I dont think so

people just hate the guy because he wants the best for us Americans, he wants us to stop slaving ourself for the rest of the world and the rest of the world will not benefit from that so they paint him with the evil brush to make people think he's the main villain in this shit show

goaded · Answer

Yes, he is. Especially with what the people around him are telling us they're planning. That's not to mention he's offered allowing fossil fuel companies the opportunity to do $900Bn in damage for the low, low price of $1Bn in getting him elected.

OtterMan68 · Answer

pathological liar. Phony Christian. Lied about ending the war in Syria and did not end US military involvement in Iraq or Afghanistan, either. Anti-free markets. His administration's policies in 2020 directly led to the inflation that followed.

Expanded the debt and deficit and gov spending even before covid.

onedarkcloud · Answer

He is not that bad it is just the Trump derangement syndrome people go wild because he is not like your regular run of the mill corrupt politician. People do not know what to do with him They have lied for six years and still, he is outpolling the rest and the never Trumpers can't stand it

Kaneki05 · Answer

Yeah. Simple as that. There is a reason why the only people who give him credit are far right extremists say's it all really. Which even themselves can't disagree they are that.

strateguy632 · Answer

obviously not but ttrump is a political candidate so people, who want their side to win, smear him. court case after court case find the accusations baseless. you would think a decent court would reject any old case as political lies.

Alexandrubaschet08 · Answer

I don't know for shure, i'm not from USA and Trump did some good things for my country, but i'm scared of his declarations and unpredictibility.

Other way i will had suport him for his army that he move it from Germany in to the East.

BarryLiverstone · Answer

Nope. These days politics is about fear and trying to get votes by vilifying the opposition. Neither Trump nor Biden are that bad. If another person was able to win the Republican primary you wouldn’t hear as much about Trump as you hear currently

DrAdams · Answer

It’s all FAKE NEWS! Trump was Americas greatest president!

laly520 · Answer

most of those discussions about Trump r pointless n purely about hate

Dargil · Answer

He's really  that good.

DrPepper12 · Answer

Yes. He's a global threat. MAGA is a terrorist organization. Christo-fascists, bigots, theives and misogynists are all on team trump

Bricealan · Answer

"... really that bad" ... I don't know what "that bad" alludes to?

Chris_68 · Answer

yes. he's a moron, he's greedy, he has no morals, and he's abusive.

Snakeyes7 · Answer

He was the best president in my life time. His presidency was honestly the only time I felt proud to be an American.

Shy_Steve · Answer

Well the fact is that most People don't know, But we judge him because of what he has said in public but judging by that its not that good compared to other people in the public eye.

llorando · Answer

Yes, he's a big pharma shill who drained the swamp by putting swamp creatures in charge of draining the swamp.

Anonymous · Answer

nope. plus he's better than the other choice.

Hispanic-Cool-Guy · Answer

He's not as bad as liberal media makes him out to be nor as good as conservative media makes him out to be.

austinbooth · Answer

Honestly no he's not. He has a navy seal as his VP. Hell NO

Kimberly1979 · Answer

Yes cause he’s proven to be a con man. I grew up In The Atlantic City.

exitseven · Answer

He was the best president in my lifetime.

Cheerguy · Answer

No he's awesome

thisAppIsGarbage · Answer

He's that good. A God king.

jahaims · Answer

Is lying and scamming bad?

WintersDaughter · Answer

He's alright.

Benitomussoloni · Answer

yes he is a very bad semitist

Skyros · Answer

He’s like a modern day Ronald Reagan.

Astarlessnightsky · Answer

Yes.

dustybiker2 · Answer

Yes. Really.

whistlingwh0res · Answer

He is a real estate broker

DreamLife7 · Answer

Nope

Fuentes · Answer

Lol no

handsomelad70 · Answer

WORSE !!!

Anonymous · Answer

Where are you from?

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