Isn’t it about time you finally face the truth? You may not be able to admit it out loud to your friends, family, or coworkers, but you can at least look in the mirror and admit it under your breath: Trump isn’t that bad.
We were sold that Trump was a terrible racist, yet his favorite accomplishments are ones important to black voters. He twisted bipartisan arms to pass the First Step Act, last year the SBA granted $330 million in loans to black women, Trump funded HBCUs, and created opportunity zones. He’s also been an advocate for school choice.
It’s time to face reality: either Trump isn’t a racist or racism doesn’t play as big a role in your daily life as the media would have you think. I believe both are true.
The economy was good before the pandemic. Black, Hispanic, Asian, and female unemployment was at historic lows. Hiring signs were up everywhere, and wages naturally rose to be competitive. Democrats try to claim Trump’s tax cuts only benefited the rich, but that isn’t true. Many Americans saw additional money back on their paychecks, double income tax credits for their children, and experienced some sort of benefit from their employer. Some employees received bonuses, and some companies gave education stipends. Democrats were banking on a recession that never manifested to overcome Trump’s popularity.
We were sold that Trump was dangerous, but he’s the only president in my lifetime who hasn’t started any new wars. He was sold as an anti-Semite and an Islamaphobe, yet he’s negotiated peace deals in the Middle East, resulting in multiple Nobel Peace Prize nominations.
Trump was painted as homophobic, but he appointed Richard Grenell (who is openly gay) as an ambassador and began an effort to decriminalize homosexuality around the world.
We were sold that Trump would be a dictator, yet immigrants who fled oppressive regimes—like the Cuban population in Florida—support the president and see him as a warrior against socialism. Trump is called a fascist by leftists, yet he resisted making enormous power grabs during the pandemic and allowed federalism to rule. Governors like Cuomo and Newsom praised Trump’s pandemic response until it was no longer politically expedient. When the pandemic first began, I was optimistic about how Americans came together. Companies built ventilators, created masks, the National Guard built hospitals in major convention centers across the country, and a ship was sent to New York.
But eventually, the pandemic became extremely political. Democrats also got that recession they needed to compete.
Even with all that has happened, Gallup reported 56% of Americans say they’re better off today than they were four years ago.
That’s incredible, considering the barrage of negative media coverage. It’s surprising how many Americans still believe Trump colluded with Russia, but thorough investigations found nothing. It turns out the FBI knew the Steel Dossier was bad as early as December of 2016. Many mocked Trump for claiming Obama spied on his campaign, but that turned out to be true. Even Biden was caught having more to do with the targeting of General Michael Flynn than he originally claimed.
Some Americans believe Trump is a criminal who deserved to be impeached, yet the articles didn’t charge the president with any crimes. Not only was he acquitted; Democrats aren’t using impeachment in their campaign strategy.
Is Trump’s style crude? No doubt, but there have been far more controversial presidential figures in the past who benefited from existing pre-social media. Trump idolizes figures like President Grant because he, too, is a flawed leader who serves a purpose: to fight for America and win. Trump’s closing message at the presidential debate last week was the success of Americans will unite us. Biden’s closing argument hinged on a plea that he has a superior moral character. As a black voter that has been constantly demeaned by Biden, that’s not enough for me. Is it good enough for you?
If your family is safer and, overall, more prosperous today than four years ago, consider why.
Maybe you can’t admit it out loud, but you can trust the ballot box to keep your secret.
Many Democrat operatives expect marginalized communities to experience schadenfreude when a powerful man like Trump gets what they think is coming to him. But the reality is that most people want real justice over social or performative justice.