Donald Trump was seen with a noticeable layer of makeup on his right hand on Friday as he left the White House, amid ongoing speculation about his health. The 79-year-old is believed to have used makeup to hide bruising on his hand on several occasions since returning to office, but the application appeared particularly thick during his visit to The People’s House museum.
The issue is that it isn’t that Donald has a magic sway over his followers. It’s that he gives them permission to be their worst selves.
He hinted, twice, to crowds that they should get the Covid vaccine. And was booed. Twice.
He’s riding the tiger and does an impressive job at it.
When he leaves, he will leave a vacuum. And that vacuum will be filled, unfortunately.
There will be tons of maga people who absolutely hate each other mutually backstabbing, and it just might be extremely tricky for any one of them to gain ground, even with Vance technically being the one moving up.
Even trump barely keeps them from one another’s throats.
Hard to say ultimately, though no reason to outright assume it’ll get worse if trump’s health goes south, it seems to me.
I agree about the vacuum, I just don’t think JD is a clear successor to be the one to fill it. I think there will be a power struggle, which could present an opportunity to slow the momentum of the fascist movement.
Sure they boo when he says something they don’t like, but do you think even .000001% of them changed their vote? They probably just made some excuse like he said that to throw off the deep state, 5D chess, we all know the real truth, etc. What they give in return for that permission you mentioned is unwavering loyalty. Maybe he can’t lead them around by the nose, but he unifies them. You’ve got people who spent the last 40 years extolling the virtues of free trade defending an extreme tariff regime. You’ve got people who put “Character Counts” and “Values Voter” stickers on the car voting for a pedophile rapist who paid hush money for cheating on his third wife with a porn star. He has some kind of a hold on them that I think would be difficult to replicate. That’s what gives him a vice-like grip on the party. Any Republican official who dares go against him is quickly drummed out of office. The list is long.
Anyways I hope there is an opportunity to test our competing theories as soon as possible and if I’m wrong I’ll tip my hat.
I very much hope you’re right that Vance fails utterly to pick up Donald’s supporters.