History in the Making


Are we watching “The Hunt For Red October” or “From Russia With Love”?


            History is the exploration of the past.  It relies on evidence to explain past events, which then form perspectives or interpretations of events, eras, and movements.  If we let the evidence speak for itself this is what I believe future textbooks will say about Donald J. Trump and his presidency.


2015-2016: Populist billionaire Donald J. Trump brilliantly tapped into the cries from the heartland and easily won the Republican primaries and then upset Hillary Clinton in the general election to become the 45th President of the United States.  Many voted for Trump believing that he argued for wholesale change in America.

Losers: the traditional political establishment, Republican Party, the Democratic Party, and Hillary Clinton
Winner: Donald J. Trump

2017-2018: President Trump continues to blur the lines surrounding conflict of interest laws by making his eldest daughter a special advisor to the president.  His companies continue to remain profitable as they clearly take advantage of his policies and ideas.  To his frustration, the press attacks President Trump and in response, the president’s team creates barriers between the press and the administration.  False news emerges from the White House providing alternative interpretations of the president’s actions and policies.
The president’s erratic behavior evidenced in late night and early morning tweets and outward lies, cast dispersions on foreign leaders, NATO, the UN, branches of the government, government workers, judges and former presidents. Coupled with growing suspicions that there is a connection between the Trump campaign and the Russian government, calls for investigations begin pitting the Democrats against the Republicans. The public equally find themselves in conflict as Trump’s policies create religious, class, racial, ethnic, and gender divides.  Trump’s agenda is too bold for the economy to withstand and economic and social issues collide.  As moderate Republicans take positions against more conservative members of the party, the moral fiber of the nation is brought into question.

Loser: Donald J. Trump, president of the United States
Winner: Donald J. Trump, businessman

2018-2020: The uniqueness of Trump’s style of governance calls for further investigation of his administration.  The aura of an illegitimate presidency increases public distrust of the president and the government. Scandals continue and there are always contentions that forces outside the Beltway influence the president’s judgments.  Partisan politics increases and Congress becomes stagnant as the minority party cries foul.  Many of the president’s campaign promises are not fulfilled and those that are, are often costly for the middle and lower class. It is never proven that the Russians aided President Trump, but there is no question that they attempted to harm both Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton’s chances.  As a result, the Democrats continue to highlight Trump’s arrogance and abuses of power as signs that he was aligned with Russia during the campaign.  Change in America only benefits the wealthy.  The instability of American leadership changes the course of its global leadership and weakens its old alliances.

Loser: the American people
Winner: the Russian government

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