The Power of AI: The Edited Essay from ChatGPT

 I took my essay, written and published on May 26th, and gave it to ChatGPT to edit. Within a minute it produced the following essay. It also offered guidance for strengthening my argument and tailoring it for a variety of audiences. Here is the final product. What do you think?

Edited Essay:

In 2015, Kendrick Lamar released his critically acclaimed album To Pimp A Butterfly. The cover featured a group of young Black men piled on the lawn in front of the White House. Beneath the crowd lay a knocked-out President—implied to be Obama. It struck me as strange that Lamar would criticize the first Black president, a hero in many households. It made me wonder: what would a contemporary protest album cover look like if it targeted the current administration?

In our media-saturated world, politicians are not exempt from harsh criticism. The American public holds strong opinions and often attacks with impunity. Yet, as a nation, we remain divided on Donald Trump—as a businessman, a politician, and a president. Trump doesn’t shy away from conflict; he pushes back with sharp knives. Could this be why, despite everything, Trump has not been subject to the same level of scrutiny as other leaders?

It may be unthinkable, but Donald Trump is "pimping the presidency." He used his first term to test boundaries; now, the second term is about getting paid. Trump uses the presidency the way a pimp uses a prostitute—selling access and influence to the highest bidder. It doesn’t seem to matter what nation or individual is interested. His recent trip to the Gulf States yielded hotels, golf courses, tournaments, and undisclosed business deals. While he brags that these ventures help the country, it would be interesting to compare how much the Trump family profited versus what the United States gained.

The current occupant of the White House routinely escapes consequences for both verbal and white-collar offenses. One example: the recent $Trump crypto event held at his Virginia property during so-called “off-hours.” But presidents don’t get off-hours. He was, once again, using the presidency and the White House brand for personal gain.

Another troubling case is his push for a luxury 747, even as two new Air Force Ones are under construction. Trump falsely claimed the current aircraft were outdated, ignoring the fact that he had long coveted this 13-year-old plane. When it was suddenly offered as a “gift,” he likened it to France’s gift of the Statue of Liberty. It’s likely that the plane, supposedly donated to the Air Force, will never serve as Air Force One but may remain in Trump’s personal fleet. This episode, like many others, is a clear constitutional violation.

Even more concerning is the Trump Organization’s deal with the Vietnamese government to fast-track a major real estate project. Was this a quid pro quo for reduced tariffs? Are his bizarre attacks on celebrities like Bruce Springsteen and Taylor Swift part of a strategy to weaken their political influence?

Let’s take a step back. One of the defining issues of the 2024 election was Project 2025. Reminiscent of the Russia scandal in 2016 or Trump’s earlier Emoluments Clause violations, Project 2025 again tied Trump to a controversial document. Democrats tried to link Trump directly to the book-length policy proposal. As expected, he denied knowing anything about it. Some Republican factions also distanced themselves from the project.

Mainstream media outlets—on both the left and the right—would have us believe most Americans accepted Trump’s denials. But polling data shows otherwise. Many voters were aware of Project 2025, its origins, and its ties to the Trump campaign. The slew of executive orders issued on January 20th was not a surprise to everyone. Whether seen as shocking or expected depends on one’s perspective.

Now, we hear claims of buyer’s remorse from some Trump voters. Others express shock at the administration’s authoritarian leanings, or at the Supreme Court’s silence. Yet the truth is, many Americans knew what they were voting for. While I agree with commentators who describe American voters as “uninformed,” I think that’s only part of the story. Most Americans are modestly informed and can access accurate information when needed.

So why did people vote for Trump—or refuse to vote for Harris? I still believe racism, sexism, and classism explain much of the electorate’s decision. If we’re to minimize the damage of this “confused electorate,” how should we characterize this presidency?

Project 2025 promised a whirlwind of executive actions in the first 100 days. On paper, it delivered. Trump wasted no time issuing orders aligned with its goals. The volume was staggering. But were these actions meaningful? Many were either unconstitutional, illegal, or both. Some bordered on absurdity—renaming the Gulf of Mexico, calling Canada the 51st state, or proposing to annex Greenland. These moves have alienated allies and overwhelmed the legal system.

What Project 2025 achieved was a symbolic victory for disaffected Americans. It fueled a narrative that minorities had stolen the American Dream from whites. The MAGA agenda sought to dismantle the New Deal, the Great Society, affirmative action, Obamacare, food assistance, foreign aid, and public education. Through executive fiat, Trump began to “even the playing field” for his base, while instilling fear across the nation.

But make no mistake—Trump is not governing. He is ruling by proclamation. With no real legislation and minimal pushback from Congress, executive orders have given Trump an aura of authority—ruthless and lawless. America has become chaotic, unpredictable, a nation starring in its own reality show with Trump as both director and king.

Protesters have lost their visas. Temporary protections for Afghans, Venezuelans, and Iraqis have been revoked. Judges and college presidents have been threatened. Habeas corpus has been ignored. While illegal, Trump’s tactics have coerced institutions into submission.

Critics call him a tyrant. In this American Game of Thrones, world leaders visit only to be humiliated, while Trump proclaims his greatness. The Trump worldview divides people into good and evil, often pitting the public against imaginary enemies: corporations, celebrities, foreign countries—even the former homelands of American citizens. Right-wing media cheers this on.

And the executive orders will keep coming. Harvard and other elite universities will be punished. DEI programs will be eliminated under the guise of protecting fairness. The administration has extended sanctuary to white South Africans while condemning sanctuary cities. Reparations have been suggested for families of January 6th protesters. A massive military parade is scheduled for June 14—Flag Day and Trump’s birthday.

Trump will continue to misuse tariffs to enrich his family. The wars he promised to end continue. Soon, the Supreme Court may shield him in unjust rulings, or Congress may fail to check his power. While I believe this presidency is taking America in the wrong direction, few Americans seem willing to admit its failures.

The next chapter is the “Big Beautiful Bill,” the latest legislative package tied to Project 2025. Though unlikely to pass in its current form, it could still clear the Republican majorities. It will balloon the deficit, weaken America’s credit, raise taxes on the poor, and enrich the wealthy. It may trigger a recession.

So, what image belongs on that album cover?

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I then asked Chat GPT for an Op-Ed version of the essay. Within another minute this version appeared. 

Op-Ed Title: The Presidency for Sale: Trump, Project 2025, and the Price of Power

In 2015, Kendrick Lamar challenged America’s conscience with the cover of To Pimp a Butterfly, showing young Black men posed defiantly in front of the White House with a fallen judge—implied to be President Obama—beneath them. It was striking not just for its audacity, but because it dared to critique a president who was a symbol of hope for many. Today, I find myself wondering: if we were to design an album cover for this moment—one that speaks to the state of American leadership—what image would capture it?

The reality is grim. Donald Trump is not just reshaping the presidency—he is commodifying it. What once served as a symbol of national integrity is now a platform for personal profit and political vengeance. His second term is not about governance; it’s about payback and enrichment. The first term bent the rules. The second one appears determined to erase them entirely.

Consider his recent crypto event at a Trump-owned property, advertised using his status as president. There is no such thing as “off-time” for a sitting president. But Trump has never recognized those boundaries. He has used the office to market hotels, broker deals, and collect tribute from foreign governments—all under the shield of executive privilege.

Then there’s Project 2025, a sweeping, ideologically extreme blueprint for America that quietly underpinned Trump’s campaign. Though he publicly distanced himself from it, the flood of executive orders on Day One was straight from its pages. From dismantling diversity programs to gutting the Department of Education and cutting international aid, this administration isn’t governing. It’s ruling by fiat—bombarding the system with decrees faster than courts or Congress can respond.

The effect has been chaotic. What began as a promise to “drain the swamp” has morphed into authoritarian spectacle. Tariffs are weaponized for personal gain. Allies are alienated by outrageous proposals—like renaming the Gulf of Mexico or annexing Greenland. Universities are under siege, and protesters have lost visas. Executive power has been transformed from a constitutional tool into a bludgeon.

And yet, where is the outrage? Many Americans still act surprised, as if they didn’t see this coming. But they did. Trump was clear about his intentions, and Project 2025 was public. The real question is: why did voters embrace it anyway?

It’s easy to blame disinformation or apathy, but we need to dig deeper. Race, class, and gender remain the unspoken engines of American politics. Trump's appeal lies not just in his rhetoric, but in the grievances he channels—many of which are rooted in fear of losing power to a more diverse and equitable future.

That’s why his executive orders, even the most outrageous ones, are met with silence or approval from his base. It’s not about legality; it’s about symbolism. Every targeted program, every silenced critic, every lawsuit settled or dropped sends a message: the old order is being restored—for some.

As the next chapter unfolds, with the “Big Beautiful Bill” promising tax breaks for the wealthy and a financial burden for everyone else, the country moves toward a crisis of governance. We’re not just debating policies anymore—we’re questioning whether our institutions can withstand this brand of leadership.

If I were to imagine that protest album cover today, I see a lone figure on the White House lawn—not surrounded by hopeful citizens or defiant youth, but stacks of cash, executive orders fluttering in the wind, and the Constitution underfoot. It's not satire. It's where we are.

This isn’t politics as usual. It’s power without accountability, spectacle without substance. And unless we’re honest about why Trump rose—and why he continues to thrive—we may soon find that the presidency, once the world’s most powerful office, has been reduced to a reality show set. Only this time, the consequences are real. 

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Here is the question: is the leaning of the article a reflection of my writing or a perception of my writing style by ChatGPT or is it the programming of ChatGPT?