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A Pattern of Deflection
In a column for NRC, the author argues that Donald Trump maintains a consistent pattern of refusing to admit fault, instead blaming political allies for electoral defeats. The piece, which analyzes the former president’s reaction to the midterms, characterizes this behavior as a refusal to accept personal responsibility.
Distancing from Midterm Performance
The author notes that Trump responded to his party’s midterm results by stating, “I thought they would do better.” According to the column, Trump directed this criticism at the candidates he had supported, distancing himself from the outcome. The piece suggests that Trump views his own political standing as distinct from the performance of his party, maintaining that he remains popular despite the failures of those he calls his “slippendragers”—or followers.
Column Compares Trump to Fictional Character Ollie B. Bommel
The column compares Trump’s lack of self-criticism to the fictional character Ollie B. Bommel, created by Marten Toonder. The author suggests that Trump appears unaware that his political influence is viewed differently by the public than he perceives it himself. The piece predicts that Trump will remain a subject of historical interest, with future books and theater productions likely to focus on the question of how an individual described as an “idiot” held power for years.
The Threat of Retaliation
The author warns that the next two years of Trump’s political activity could be marked by volatility. Because Trump feels wronged by those he blames for his electoral setbacks, he may seek revenge against journalists, civil servants, and political opponents. The piece observes that outside the United States, politicians who aligned themselves with Trump, such as Geert Wilders in the Netherlands, are now facing the fallout of his diminished electoral success.
The Scope of Trump’s Influence
The author suggests that Trump remains a potent force for the next two years and warns that a “Trump in the corner” might take unpredictable or vengeful actions against those he perceives as having caused his recent political difficulties. While the column describes Trump as blaming his party’s midterm losses on the candidates he supported rather than his own influence, it notes that Geert Wilders has not yet publicly commented on the electoral outcomes for Trump, preferring instead to continue criticizing D66.
Worth a look