ELECTION 2020
Trump is in Trouble
This article can be found in my “Political Analysis” section, in which I analyze election trends and politicians’ motives and strategies.
President Trump’s rallies in Tulsa and Phoenix demonstrate that the man has lost his political instincts.
Believe it or not, Trump ran a smart campaign in 2016. He (somewhat) focused on issues that mattered to people. Trump hammered Hillary Clinton on voting for the Iraq War (which has killed 200,000 civilians since 2003). He pounded her for supporting the North American Free Trade Agreement (or NAFTA, which cost the US hundreds of thousands of jobs). Furthermore, Trump attacked Clinton for taking money from large donors (such as through her Goldman Sachs speeches).
Trump tapped into people’s feelings that politicians are corrupt elites who ignore the little guy. That’s why Congress has less than 30% approval rating.
Sure, Trump had insane ideas like banning Muslim immigrants, expanding torture in Guantanamo Bay, killing the families of terrorists (i.e. civilians), etc. But Trump also portrayed himself as an outsider who would protect American industry and “drain the swamp” of corruption. Whether he was successful (and whether Trump was genuine) is a separate conversation, but Trump knew how to present himself to get the working-class vote.
