Reflections on Presidential Rhetoric
I find myself thinking about the words our president uses—how significant they are to people. And, honestly, they seem to have diminished quite a bit. Donald Trump’s comments? They range from wild to downright ridiculous, sometimes sounding sincere or, well, juvenile. A considerable portion of the American populace treats his outbursts like a late-night radio show segment, just a stream of chatter without much substance.
Recently, the current president shared a photo of himself in military gear, reminiscent of a character from “Apocalypse Now,” which—let’s be real—felt like a bizarre declaration of war in Chicago. If you haven’t heard, Chicago is a big deal in the U.S. Yet, this hardly made waves in the news cycle, which is somewhat unsettling given the gravity of the situation. We’re talking about a declaration that implies sending troops into major American cities, paired with that absurd image and a film’s tagline. It’s troubling.
Public comments from a sitting president like this—especially in the past few years—could be grounds for serious concern, or at least a prompt for some mental health checks. When previous presidents made similarly concerning statements, they often faced backlash that forced them to retreat. But, somehow, this doesn’t seem to faze a large segment of the population. I mean, it’s the President of the United States we’re discussing—the supposed leader of the free world. This is the role that many kids aspire to. It carries immense responsibility, perhaps more than any other position on the planet.
Yet, here we are. I can hardly wrap my head around it. We’re dealing with Donald Trump here, as if stepping back to 2010, when life was different. Remember when “The Apprentice” was a thing? Or the late ’90s, when he guest-starred on wrestling shows? It’s wild to think of that caricature of a wealthy man back then now trying to smooth things over with half the country while undermining the seriousness of the Oval Office.
But here we are, stuck with this personality cult. It’s peculiar—almost like a leader whose actions don’t align with reality, yet people still follow. It makes you wonder if choosing him again would lead to a repeat of what has gone wrong before. Inflation is climbing, and the war in Ukraine continues. Meanwhile, the situation in Palestine remains dire, and we seem to ignore the gravity of it all. Tariffs don’t seem to be benefitting Americans, and the working class pays similar taxes with a declining dollar value.
Housing costs are still soaring, and despite reports of job growth, we just received one of the worst employment reports in years. Oh, and let’s not forget about Epstein’s files—still under wraps, with the previous administration making sure they stay that way.
If there were a president with redeeming qualities, it might be easier to understand why some defend this behavior. Obama inspired many; Jimmy Carter built houses. Even Reagan delivered stirring speeches. But not Trump. Behind the chaos is the man who dismissed Epstein’s victims as “Democrat hoaxes” and made absurd claims about Space Command relocating due to voting issues. He mentioned a fictional conversation involving his uncle teaching the Unabomber—totally outlandish.
For years, people have skewered Joe Biden, labeling him paranoid and distorting his image, while rallying behind someone whose actions are genuinely concerning. There’s a disconnect here; Trump’s history is marred with scandal and felony charges, yet he and his family benefit immensely from various schemes.
The situation is so frustrating. Is this hatred? Is it a fixation on returning to a past that, in reality, never existed? When was it truly safe for everyone? I’m not here to criticize but to genuinely ponder these questions. At this point, it feels like animosity is all that’s left for many.
