Within the next five years or so, I believe Donald Trump will be one of the only humans in history to serve as a case study across multiple academic disciplines.
From psychology to politics, business to journalism, many fields will look at the 45th President of the United States as a unique specimen who seemed to garner as much love as he did hatred among the American people.
Donald Trump, Shapeshifter
Somehow the billionaire – who has reinvented himself more times than Madonna – has transformed himself from a real estate mogul to a reality TV show star to a politician to a bona fide “gangster” and one of the most divisive personalities in history.
Trump has defied not only all odds but four criminal indictments as well as civil suits that seem to keep piling up.
And yet ….
Trump Leads in Popularity and Cash
He is far and away leading the Republican primary, not only in popularity but also in fundraising.
According to a report in Politico, the $24.5 million Trump’s campaign reported raising during the third quarter is more than double what any of his Republican rivals reported over the same period.
This is in contrast to earlier this year when Florida Governor Ron DeSantis led the pack in campaign dollars.
Now DeSantis, the runner-up in the primary race by a far stretch, seems to be strapped for cash as some big donors express skepticism at his efforts to win. Meanwhile, Trump continues to rake in the dough.
The same Politico report stated Trump has more than seven times as much cash on hand available for the primary as his closest rival.
In the polls, Trump leads by anywhere between 38 and 46 points, depending on the state.
It was thought that as the year went on and the primary debates got underway, particularly with all his legal woes, Trump might lose his edge and his competitors would gain some ground.
Not so.
Trump’s criminal indictments seem to only have poured fuel on the wildfire that is Donald Trump.
“All the political elites want him to run out of money and keep hoping something bad is gonna happen. And he just continues to chug along and improve,” said Dave Carney, a veteran Republican consultant, to Politico. “And without any clarity on the alternative across six or seven people right now, you know, he’s just gonna continue to roll forward.”
In Awe of the Trump Obsession
As for me, I sit on the fence when it comes to Trump. Depending on the day, I could swing my leg over either way. I am not enraged by venomous hate for the man, nor am I blinded by adoration.
What I am is in awe of a man who can convince people to open up their wallets to a billionaire so he can pay his legal fees – more than $40 million in the first half of 2023 alone according to reports – and continue to run as a candidate to lead America through one of its most turbulent times.
I’m even more in awe of those who believe he is the only man to save our country.
First off, no man is going to save our country. We’ve traveled down a long, perverse, and crooked road to get ourselves into the dark hole we are in. No one person in the Oval Office is going to dig us out.
Second, voters have an array of qualified and/or capable candidates to choose from in the Republican party for the 2024 ticket. For Pete’s sake, just pick one who isn’t potentially going to jail and can definitively beat Joe Biden.
This is the anomaly that is Donald Trump. One that ought to be studied and examined in great detail.
However, as I type this, I’m rethinking my premise. Maybe it’s not Trump that needs to be examined, but us.
Jennifer Galardi is the politics and culture editor and opinion writer for 19FortyFive.com. She has a Master’s in Public Policy from Pepperdine University and produces and hosts the podcast Connection with conversations that address health, culture, politics, and policy. In a previous life, she wrote for publications in the health, fitness, and nutrition space. In addition, her pieces have been published in the Epoch Times and Pepperdine Policy Review. You can follow her on Instagram and Twitter.
