After winning a cage match in front of the White House last weekend, UFC fighter Josh Hokit paused his postfight interview to take a vulgar swipe at former first lady Michelle Obama. In the days that followed, Obama began trending across social media — not because of the insult, but because Americans responded by celebrating her, sharing elegant portraits, highlighting her accomplishments and praising the grace and dignity she brought to public life.
It is a familiar pattern in the Trump era. First comes the clumsy effort to glorify the president and demean his perceived opponents. Then comes the public reaction that elevates the very people and values he is trying to diminish. President Donald Trump wanted Americans to celebrate his birthday with a big UFC fight. Instead, he reminded Americans of everything they appreciated about the Obamas.
Trump wants love, but he doesn’t know how to win it. He wants respect, but he doesn’t know how to earn it. He wants to be feared, but he doesn’t know how to inspire it. Frustrated, he turns to forced displays of loyalty and empty threats. And Americans respond with ridicule or something he may find worse: indifference.
This is a preview of a column by Michael Steele. Read the full column here.
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