Whether you’re a supporter or not, one thing remains clear. President Donald Trump has lived an intriguing life that many could only dream of. From Twitter rants to a businessman a reality TV star to the 45th president of the United States,Trump has stayed in the spotlight, some argue far too long, and somehow never leaves it.
Creating a legacy for all his lineage, and making his name an attraction for headlines. Trump has truly pushed the limitations of what an icon can be.
The truth is not many people can dominate headlines for so long and still remain a household name. So, love him or hate him, Trump has created a staple for himself as a cultural icon in politics, business and entertainment,proving he can capture the true essences of society’s interests.
With him being able to adhere to our interests, the question becomes; why are we attracted to this controversy? We should hold all public figures, especially our president, to higher standards, as we would any ordinary citizen. So why don’t we?
“We,” as a society, could be the reason Trump doesn’t have to prove his relevance. We keep listening, we keep giving him our attention and we keep allowing him to have this much influence and power.
Power demands responsibility at times, but when cancel culture fails and many don’t hold wrong-doers accountable, irresponsible power is established. So this isn’t about Trump himself, it’s about us.
Trump hasn’t stayed in the public eye this long all by himself. The press covers his every word, social media makes every post viral and we never stop looking away. Whether it’s praising him or criticizing him, we give him our attention. And in a world where attention equals power, maybe we created the very icon we now debate.
Whether it’s the fact he’s our first president who is a convicted felon or selecting a Cabinet full of people who aren’t quite qualified, our attention remains on his controversial actions. Even after his presidential lost we helped him remain his high public status. We grant Trump with our undivided attention each time. So, it’s no surprise he loves and takes advantage of it daily.
Donald Trump is more than just a politician or celebrity. He’s a reflection of what captures society’s attention. He has us wrapped around his finger, which has probably always been his initial plan in this massive take over. The real reason he holds so much power isn’t just his actions, but our reactions. We have given him the spotlight, the headlines, the platform and he has created an empire from our interest.
So instead of only questioning Trump, maybe it’s time we start questioning ourselves. Why do we encourage this behavior? Why do we reward his actions and give him fulfillment?
In the end Trump’s rise says less about him and more about us, and that might be the hardest truth to face. As a society we’re more drawn to ignorance for entertainment than boring good qualities and morals. In the end,this will possibly create more icons who are Trump imitators,whom will only take over in the future.
