Trump’s midterm campaign theme is unrequited love | Sidney Blumenthal
The president senses a crisis in his cult of personality. He believes the path to victory is through unwavering devotion Donald Trump has framed his theme for the midterm elections. It has come to him as naturally and inevitably as staring into the mirror, beyond any logic or argument, his definitive answer to no specific issue, providing no understanding of any particular problem, but…
Donald Trump's midterm campaign is built on the theme of unrequited love, according to Sidney Blumenthal. The president believes that unwavering devotion is the key to victory, framing his message in a way that transcends any specific issue or problem. For Trump, his political theme is more primal than programmatic, driven by a deep-seated obsession with himself.
Unlike others, Trump alone understands the magnitude of the existential crisis facing his politics, and he has identified the problem as a faltering measure of complete devotion to him.
Trump's demand for loyalty is not based on mutual affection but is a manipulative tactic to reassert his slipping control. His message is a test to prove loyalty, or else. The absence of absolute submission is unacceptable to him, and he equates the fear he instills as a form of love. Trump accepts subservience, viewing it as affection or its closest equivalent, regardless of the motive. He cares nothing about sincerity, focusing instead on the show put on.
The less love displayed, the more fear required, but there is no rebound; only deeper rejection. This theme of unrequited love is the driving force behind Trump's midterm campaign, a reflection of his insecurities and a desperate attempt to maintain his grip on power.
Written by urgent.news from The Guardian US's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
