Trump steals the show

Since the formal launch of his campaign on June 16, Donald Trump has had the Republican party wrapped around his “you’re fired” finger.  

His campaign has bared striking resemblance to the effects of a car crash- no matter how hard you try to look away, try to ignore it, you just can’t.  Maybe it’s because of the boisterous personality, thick New York accent, or even that infamous hair.  Maybe it’s because, as Anthony Zurcher of BBC News puts it, “America loves a celebrity.”  

Contrary to popular belief, Trump does have a legitimate platform and a legitimate (and might I say, massive) following; as of October 11, twenty-seven percent of Republican primary voters supported Trump.  This number has climbed as a result of the October 28 debate.

The fact that draws most Republicans in is that Trump is not, and would never claim to be, a politician.  He is a businessman and for that reason, he is on a more respectable pedestal in terms of financing his campaign.  Unlike other candidates, Trump will never be caught collecting endorsements or holding campaign fundraisers and a result, he owes nothing to anyone, giving him free range in what he says in debates, interviews, tweets, or any other public comment.

While it is the businessman who draws America in, it is the entertainer who makes them stay.   Despite horribly offensive comments towards women (example: “Rosie O’Donnell is crude, rude, obnoxious and dumb”) and immigrants (example: “Mexican immigrants are bringing in drugs, they’re bringing crime, they’re rapists”), Trump remains ahead in the polls by an average of 4.8 points,  because he has convinced Republicans to view these comments as being made by an entertainer rather than a potential leader.  

America is hooked, but not for the reasons they should be.  It’s the same as reality television.  Nobody has any valid reason to keep up with the Kardashians, but people tune in anyways.  There is some oddly enchanting quality that invariably drags viewers into such an obscene, totally unrealistic reality.  And Trump is no stranger to that publicity. After fourteen seasons of “The Apprentice,” Trump has given himself that bizarre star quality that America loves to hate, but more importantly, loves to love.

For example, an Ohio woman recently made the first “Trumpkin,” a 374 pound pumpkin, complete with the signature Trump half-snarl plastered to the front and topped with six blonde wigs.  “#Trumpkin” is now trending across social media, with photos of each person’s own creation.  Call it mocking or disparaging, or simply call it publicity.  It is trends like these that keep Trump’s campaign alive, that keep everyone invested, wondering what will come next for him.  

Though he is endlessly criticized for his obnoxious remarks and persona, Trump doesn’t appear to be going away any time soon.   We can hate, mock and laugh all we want, but at the end of the day, America loves to hate him.  And of course he loves it, too.