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The one thing Trump knows how to do, even better than manipulating the media, is run and produce a "reality" show. When we understand that, it makes it easier to understand everything he's doing.
Of all the things I’ve written, I think this is the most likely to get me banned, or in trouble… if I’m correct. Oh, Hell, why not?
I awoke certain of the final episode of season one of… “The (blank) who would be King.” I leave you to fill in that part.
Trump comes from the world of scripted reality series. His entire life has been being a front man for a “show,” and getting the cameras to pay attention to him. Make up, reshoots, planned moments for the cameras. He is highly skilled in this field.
Recall that in all the noise and shiny object “news,” all the declarations and dismantlings and cuts and blatant attacks and fabrications and very, very King-like behavior—that Middle East trip and all that golfing—he dropped some candy for the masses.
No tax on tips.
No tax on Social Security.
Be patient. It will get worse before it gets better.
Even… to Mike Johnson, “Some tax on the wealthy.”
All of these things are hints of a big season ending episode in development.
He even has us focused on a villain, Joe Biden, the crazy man who drove the country into ruin while trying to destroy his reputation. (What a serendipity stage 9 cancer has been for the writers!)
And, of course, Liberals, who have always been his enemies just as immigrants have always been his scapegoats (Unless you’re a white farmer or a rich Russian.)
Oh, and, blame, blame, blame and weaken the guardrails, aka Courts. They are his enemies if he doesn’t own them. If he does, he loves them.
People your supporting cast with a bunch of like-minded TV personalities who know story structure and creating news that looks real enough to those who agree with it. Keep your ratings high enough so you can get maximum tension and drama.
Create LOTS of stories in all directions.
Even allow the idea to grow that you will be removed, that your show could be cancelled.
Build all this tension to a bursting point, with protestors in the streets, the courts dropping down one ruling after another against you and get it really, really suspenseful, where anything can happen… just before the big SEASON FINALE! (I would shoot for June 14th if I were the show runner.)
If you look at this as a scripted series, it begins to make sense.
In the first, say, 6 episodes, you stir the pot and create doubt and fear, build the suspense and get everyone—even your fans—wondering if they were so right or maybe wrong about you, that you truly can’t be trusted, that you must be stopped.
You even have your enemies convinced you are following ANOTHER SCRIPT! Project 2025. (Brilliant show running here. Not entirely a red herring, but part of the distraction as well.)
Did you notice how quickly his silence in the face of a FEMA request in those Red states died out? “Just give this a little more time, it’s all going to work out. We have a great twist coming.”
So much apparent cruelty and indifference.
And what is this “twist,” this season finale cliff hanger?
When the Big Beautiful Bile gets through the Senate and Congress again—which, with some minor revisions, it will in a last minute cliff-hanger—he will, while stating that he thinks there are some things he wants to fix in the bill, sign it and then, after lots of “soul-searching” make the GRAND GESTURE of Kings.
He will give the people THINGS, gifts that he is giving against the advice of his advisors. He is taking a risk in doing so, he will say, but it is worth it. He feels that in all fairness he must…
Not tax tips on my people.
Not tax social security on my elderly.
Help my minorities.
Restore some of those jobs that were cut… with the right people.
Feed my poor and weak as long as they keep spending.
Maybe even some Universal Basic Income (Probably in Season Three.)
Pull back on some of tariffs that the mean corporations are passing on to my consumers.
And other grand gestures that only he can make for his… subjects.
Protest dies down, ratings go up. His enemies have lost their mojo for fighting and down go the Courts. Down go real elections. Down goes the rule of law.
“Thank you to my followers for being patient. I told you I would handle this and it will get better.”
He can even now control prices by telling his corporations what prices to set.
And… a King is born. Approval goes way up, the big reversal.
“It was my plan all along, to help my people. I made Congress do something. I made this country great.” Crown me.
So, ends Season One. His followers vindicated. Everyone feeling relieved or perhaps a bit confused and the voices of opposition sounding a bit strident and frantic.
Season Two? Dealing with Liberal thought and influence. A cultural revolution.
Season Three? Greenland.
And for Season Four and the Grand Series Finale? Canada.
Stay tuned. Brought to you by my Memecoin.
Peter Kjenaas
Peter Kjenaas is an author, screenwriter, theater director, producer, chef, AirBnB host, parent and caregiver extraordinaire. And now he adds travel writer to his resumé as he sets off across the country in a 1971 VW camper bus. But first and foremost he is a caring and productive human who has graciously allowed us to post some of his writings to this site. See his latest book at PeterKjenaas.com, and his travel adventures at Riders on the Storm Bus.
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