As many Americans of all political stripes daily face more Trump-led confusion, uncomfortability (uncertainty) and chaos (the Trump CUC-step), whether it is another attack on America’s vaunted educational institutions, the dismantling of equal opportunity in the workplace, or masked outlaw-looking federal agents in the streets, simpler understandings are rapidly replacing more complicated and layered explanations of the country’s national and international dynamics. Yes, martial law remains on the cusp of American reality, the bankruptcy of America as the world’s leading economy is no longer an impossibility, and most elderly Americans can see their financial sunsets immediately in their faces now.
During such a maelstrom, the majority of us search for simpler times, more staightforward explanations and a lets-just-get-back-to-common sense look forward. This includes the MAGA crowd.
Mr. Trump (also known as Wreck-It-Ralph) is presently being roiled by his own perfidy. He has ridden the mighty steed of knighthood into battles that he conjured up himself, but apparently without intending to honor what goes with knighthood—a clear sense of doing right by people who support you. As fate would have it, that is a line that can’t be crossed. He either did not know that or, thinking he was somehow special, simply refused to honor it (He needs to revisit, “Man of La Mancha).
As should have been anticipated, that is proving to be a major mistake. He is putting the chink in his own armor. “Lie to them, not to us” is clearly on the table now. Like the old song said, “I don’t care what you do to them, just be good to me!”
In the famous 1985 Tina Turner film version of “Mad Max: The Thunderdome,” the long-held behavioral expectation was, “Break a deal, Face the Wheel!”
Mr. Trump apparently does not believe he has to adhere to such social agreements with his major constituents (whether he lied to them or not), but history has shown there must always be an accepted protocol for public behavior. That has long been a part of every successful civilization. There must be principles of agreement for public behavior, the violation of which will cause one to face public srutiny, scorn and, possibly, punishment.
Mr. Trump, on the stump for votes, repeatedly told the crowds he would provide the public with all relevant and lawful information on the Jeffrey Epstein case and similar strange abominations. Recently, however, he has retreated from that position and told his MAGA followers to move on—nothing to see here. That has not gone over well at all. Die-hard MAGA operators like Congresswoman M.T. Green have reacted with public complaint and heartache about Mr. Trump’s change of posture.
All is not well in MAGA Land, folks. Stay tuned for coming episodes. If Mr. Trump changes up and allows “all” of the relevant Epstein information to flow publicly, his personal involvement with Epstein’s chicanery may become evident. If he does not order the dispensation of at least most of the accrued information on Mr. Epstein’s adventures with pubescent girls, then there may be a full-throated MAGA rebellion that he will not be able to staunch.
I’m getting some popcorn. Surely, this show will go on for awhile. This couldn’t happen to a nicer fellow.
Professor David L. Horne is founder and executive director of PAPPEI, the Pan African Public Policy and Ethical Institute, which is a new 501(c)(3) pending community-based organization or non-governmental organization (NGO). It is the stepparent organization for the California Black Think Tank which still operates and which meets every fourth Friday.