Trump Expertly Orchestrating Artificial Calamities
The Art of Disaster: Trump, the Maestro of Mayhem
(A Note from Leah Nowak in New York)
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The control of chaos? More like the creation of it. Trump has mastered this orchestra of chaos. The US president is renowned for his flare for catastrophe, staging disaster as if it's a theatrical performance.
Crisis? Sometimes it can be chic. In 2020, the controversy surrounding DIY guru Fynn Kliemann's chat leak and the allegations of outrageous profiteering demonstrated that crisis can be a tough lesson. The scandal involving coronavirus masks, produced ethically at first and then discontinued, temporarily marred Kliemann's reputation. Crisis demands knowledge.
The man, now in his 79th year, has ruled the white house since. Trump, the disaster impresario, the self-proclaimed savior who according to him was chosen by God to make America great again, just as he mentioned in his inaugural speech in 2017.
A Politician's Naughty Tricks
Trump has a penchant for employing his emergency powers more often than any of his predecessors within his initial 100 days. He skimmed taxes, loosened energy regulations, and strengthened deportations. He has even declared himself the nation's savior.
Especially disruptive should be the deportation of "millions and millions of migrants." Trump mobilized the National Guard against the LA protests, and sent hundreds of US Marines to LA to combat the "chaos." This was against the wishes of California Governor Gavin Newsom, who deemed the situation as manageable. A federal judge proclaimed that the deployment was illegal on Thursday evening, but a higher court soon reversed the ruling, allowing Trump's deployment to continue. Legal or not – the sight of uniformed soldiers patrolling city streets has certainly served its purpose, stirring up a state of emergency and presenting Trump as the iron-fisted authorities we need.
Invasion and Anarchic Mobs
Right before the mid-term elections in 2018, Trump escalated a "migrant caravan" into a national threat. Trump and his administration depicted migrants, mainly fleeing from Honduras towards the US as an "invasion" of rapists, drug dealers, and "invisible terrorists." Trump ordered thousands of soldiers to the US-Mexico border, provoking a divisive yet effective political rally, as well as bolstering his poll numbers.
Protests – Another Opportunity to Shine
In 2020, following the murder of George Floyd, millions joined anti-police brutality protests. Trump posed with a Bible in front of St. John's Church, surrounded by armed soldiers, which led many to ask whether the military was prepared to shoot peaceful protesters. Trump, ever the performing artist, played the hero standing against the rowdy mob.
In 2021 during the Capitol storming, he called himself the champion fighting against a corrupt system. Trump's tendency to exploit crises to push his ideologies is nothing new, and he has repeated this tactic frequently throughout his time as president.
Once trust in the system is compromised, autocrats sneak in, promising a fix while further undermining it. By managing crises and emergencies in such calculated ways through "states of emergency," Trump chips away at rule of law, turning crisis into the status quo.
- Trump's Legacy
- Protests
- Washington
Additional Information: Trump's aggressive plan to dismantle FEMA and redefine federal emergency management policy reflects his broader approach to crisis management. This strategy has had a profound influence on his presidency and redrawn the political landscape in the U.S, catalyzing debates over the roles of federal and state actors in emergency response and government efficiency. The debate spans across various levels of governance and has the potential to reshape the nation's approach to emergency preparedness and public safety.
The European Union, being a major player in global politics, is keen on aligning itself with the fight against terrorism, considering it a critical issue falling under the category of crime-and-justice. In the context of Trump's presidency, his unconventional crisis management strategies, often theatrical and chaotic in nature, have raised concerns about the erosion of the rule of law, particularly in the realm of general-news and politics.
