NEW ORLEANS (Nov. 9, 2017) – While many may say President Trump may not be the smartest man, he still appeals to the rhetoric of the right wing to secure and maintain his base. Most recent polls show his core continues to diminish, from 38 percent to 33 percent, but that’s still one-third of Americans (and two-thirds of Republicans!!). And his tweeting outrages continue unabated.
His rhetoric on immigration played an important role in the Republican primaries. His speeches include emotionally charged words to convince his base to “Make America Great Again,” which many African Americans and other liberals feel is a “dog whistle” to racists to “Make America White Again.”
Trump's incendiary tweets repeatedly have sparked controversy since he entered the White House, as they often did during the 2016 presidential campaign. While no hard proof exists that his tweets put him over the top in the election, they undeniably riveted the attention of a broad public – media included – and continue to do so.
In July, he took to Twitter to defend his consistent tweeting, saying, “My use of social media is not Presidential – It’s MODERN DAY PRESIDENTIAL. Make America Great Again!”
Commentators of all political stripes urged Trump to give his Twitter account a rest. He ignored them, bypassing mainstream media in favor of a technology that continued to deliver his provocative messages directly, frequently, at all hours, and without filters. He’s made claims on a consistent basis that news outlets compile “fake news” and that only he knows the truth.
Trump’s rhetoric implies or says outright that everyone else is incompetent, and he is the only person that can fix immigration and the economy, secure the border and stop terrorism. Just before Election Day, he had more than 19 million Twitter followers, 18 million Facebook fans, and nearly 5 million followers on Instagram. The broadcast and cable networks amplified Trump’s network. Every time the media passes on a tweet or posting, they share his message among millions of viewers, many of whom, in turn, share the messages.
During a recent rally in Alabama, Trump’s called NFL players who protest police brutality by kneeling during the national anthem “SOB’s,” sparked a Twitter storm within 24 hours, which caused multiple NFL and NBA players, political commentators, musicians, actors/actresses, etc. to take to the app to express their feelings about the comment.
Actor Jesse Williams said, “We’re not on a plantation anymore, Chump. There will be no ‘buck breaking’ out here. Fingers on the hand form a fist,” said actor Jesse Williams.
NFL player Martellus Bennett said, “I’m OK with being fired for what I believe in,” said NFL player Martellus Bennett.
NFL player Jermon Bushrod asked, “Where was Trump’s “SOB’ comment when the racists gathered in Charlottesville? He spoke about them in a respectable way.”
We at the Courtbouillon, like so many others, believe Trump’s constant inflammatory statements on Twitter not only feed his enormous ego but are used as a means to get the public’s attention off the real issues and his failures – no wall, no new infrastructure, court blocks on his immigration policy, his inability to repeal Obamacare, the increasing number of Republicans who have become vocal about his deficiencies – along with the budding scandals: the investigation of Russian meddling in an American presidential election and the indictment of three people from his campaign.
Don’t be misled by the smoke and mirrors of what 45 comes up with in the wee hours. Just because someone says something – and his henchmen support him in it – doesn’t make it so. It’s called PROPAGANDA. Let’s stay focused on voting numbers, eliminating district gerrymandering and the issues that really matter.