Donald Trump: An Unlikely Politician
Note: This article is not an endorsement of Donald Trump.
For several years, the political pendulum has been swinging toward the conservatives. First the GOP won a majority in the House of Representatives, and then it won the majority in the Senate. If the trend continues we will have a Republican President soon. Since Donald Trump has the inside track to the White House right now, it may be prudent for us to gain a better understanding of the impact he may have on our nation and the world. This message is about how Trump doesn’t fit the mold of a traditional politician and how this reality impacts the way in which we perceive him.
The first thing a politician learns is that their success is dependent upon their popularity. Popularity equates to votes and without votes, a political career is short-lived. A politician must attempt to gain the support of as many voters as possible while alienating as few as possible. That means a politician, if he is wise, must learn how to guard his words carefully, or risk losing the support of voters. The term political correctness came into being to describe the careful way in which politicians speak, so as to offend as few people as possible. And it’s the way in which he speaks that most strongly suggests Trump doesn’t fit the mold of a politician.
It’s clear that Trump doesn’t see himself as a politician. He sees himself as a businessman. Because he doesn’t see himself as a politician, he isn’t interested in gaining popularity. And because he hasn’t been taught to value popularity—he isn’t afraid of offending people. Because he isn’t afraid of offending people, he says whatever he pleases. The difference between the way Trump and a politician speak can be seen in what they say on the campaign trail.
The politicians who are running against Trump have boasted about their state’s low employment and the bills they’ve sponsored in congress. But Trump has no political accomplishments to speak of. Success for him has always been measured by how many business deals he closes a month. The closest he’s come to achieving any political success is his growing margin of support over his competitors in the weekly polls (which may be why he rubs their noses in the latest polling numbers every chance he gets).
Trump speaks to the issues that are important to him, even if those issues aren’t always relevant to voters. He’s learning which issues are important to voters and which aren’t. Sometimes he stumbles upon a subject no one cares about, but more often than not—he hits pay dirt. He has a knack for speaking to the issues voters care about. And when Trump speaks, he speaks his mind—regardless of how many people may be offended by what he says.
A politician would never say the things Trump says publicly—even though he may think them to be true—because he knows voters would be offended by them. And a politician can’t afford to offend voters. Many politicians who have rebuked Trump for what they called a foolish idea at the time, came to embrace a nearly identical position a month or so later. Many politicians actually agree with Trump’s thinking privately, though they won’t admit it publicly because they fear losing the support of voters. It’s only after one of Trump’s ideas becomes the consensus that politicians feel safe endorsing it. And by then, it’s no longer seen as one of his ideas.
So the most popular candidate for President right now is a man who is clueless about how a political candidate is supposed to act. Is it any wonder his remarks have the world in a tizzy?
I’m not half as surprised at Trump’s popularity as I am at the fact that the media and his opponents still haven’t figured out why he’s so popular and why their attempts to ruin him have failed.
Politicians say one thing publicly, but they often hold different views, privately. The most effective way to destroy a candidate’s campaign is to bring their most controversial statements out into the open. Expose their private conversations and let the public know what they really think. Once voters get wind of it, their campaign is sunk. That’s how it is usually done, but that tactic can’t work against a man like Trump, because no one told him he was supposed to keep his private thoughts to himself. Every time a reporter shoves a microphone in his face, he says something outlandish, because he doesn’t know any better. You can’t dig up any dirt on Trump because he gives it to CNN by the truckload. Trump’s been blabbing every idea that enters his head for months now, without giving any thought to how it might affect his popularity. It’s been driving his opponents crazy, but it’s had a different effect on a large number of voters.
Trump’s supporters have said that the one thing they most appreciate about him is his frankness. They find his transparency refreshing, even if they find some of his remarks to be crass and insensitive. For those who have grown tired of hearing whitewashed speeches, Trump’s unvarnished ramblings carry an air of sincerity. Whatever he thinks, he says, whether it infuriates voters or not. One thing you can’t accuse him of is deceptiveness. With Trump—what you see is what you get. People may not like what he says, but they believe he’s saying what he honestly thinks.
Voters (at least Republican ones) seem to have developed a preference for transparency over political correctness. Rather than support a candidate who makes idealistic promises, they seem to want someone who is willing to tell it like it is. In focus groups, people have said they find Trump to be the most believable candidate. What the politicians fail to understand is that voters no longer believe what they have to say. They’ve lost their credibility. As politically incorrect as he is—Trump’s strong suit is that people actually believe him, even if they don’t find him to be very likable.
During the last debate, Trump admitted that he’s a political rookie. He said he’s learned a lot from the other candidates during the campaign and he’s trying to learn what it takes to transition from being a businessman to being a presidential candidate. The irony is that Trump is now cast in the role of the apprentice. It’s hard to imagine someone in their mid-sixties starting a new political career, but that’s the reality we’re dealing with. Just like anyone else beginning a new career, Trump’s growth as a politician is going to require a lot of patience from us, especially if he makes it to the White House. But this time it will be the voters who decide if the apprentice is fired or if he moves forward. If he does win the election, his term in office will probably be like nothing we’ve ever seen. So if you haven’t yet, you may want to ask God how you can best pray into that.
Great word and TRUMP has had my vote & daily prayers!
The Lord woke me up early one morning last April and told me that He wanted me to pray that the Christians would accept His trumpet, Trump. He went on to tell me that it was He who had given Trump the power to get wealth, and that it was for this very purpose…so he could run and answer to no man. I pray daily for him. I know our nation needs a strong leader and I am believing that God is building Trump into all He has need of in this time in our nation. I also pray for him to have wisdom from on high and a watch by His mouth…lol…but we need…the world needs…a Churchill and God called him His trumpet, Trump.
What you’ve written here is right on~! Love your point of view on Trump. Next article please let us know your thoughts on the other candidates and how they measure up to Trump.
Thanks~!
Nita Ryan
Nita – I forgot to include the link to my previous article on Trump when I posted this one. Here’s the link: http:s://prayingmedic.com/2015/08/07/my-thoughts-on-donald-trump/
I have several more articles in works.
Thanks for dropping by!
Thanks for these thoughts, they really help me understand what is going on as I never watch the news or read the newspaper. I will be praying for God’s leading when I vote!
🙂 Thank you for bringing clarity to something (Presidential race) that has left me shaking my head. I honestly want to bury my head when politics come up. Trump has made it pretty interesting and my favorite thing about him is his frankness. It really refreshing and while that is a pretty sad state for American politics, I think it’s something the current and future politicians should learn from.
I am not an American, but something has to be done about your country. You need a strong leader and not a puppet that does the works of special interests. I am sure that Trump is the man your nation needs. I want to honor you for taking the initiative and writing on this bombastic leader that is in the race
I’m so thankful for your reasonable and thoughtful point of view.
A few men have prophesied about Mr. Trump! Kim Clement said he would be used as a prophetic trumpet this season and Dr.Lance Wallnau said the Lord gave him Isaiah 45 about The Cyrus anointing! He has been leading a periscope/ Facebook intercession for our country and this up coming election for about 20 plus days! Check it out? God Bless- Thanks for your e mail
I LOVED your non-biased and honest opinion and observing stance! Have you watched this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zt7_KaPoybI
In morning in January as I was in my secret place talking with our Father God, he spoke to me very sweetly and said “I want you to support Donald Trump in the upcoming election, I have raised him for such a day as this” I mentioned about his way he gained wealth… God said ” I had the wicked lay up for the righteous and had it come into his hands… I am supporting Donald Trump in this campaign and he is not going to be obligated to any of the worldly system…” He talked to me some more about Mr Trump and I began to see him through the eyes of my Father… He showed me Donald Trumps heart and he truly has a soft heart, a kind gentle man that loves God and our country. He doesn’t show weakness because the Lord is his strength… God said he gave Donald Trump a brilliant mind, full of wisdom and he only listens to God and not man. I ask our Father if Donald Trump would be our next president, He is leaving that choice up to the American people .. He ask me to pray for eyes to be opened so America will see that God wants to restore our Land and he wants to work through Donald Trump…. I could not think of voting for any one else other than mr. Trump… It would not do for King David to be alive now, would it… the establishment would not have him as King though he was God’s chosen man… I pray that the eyes of all Americans be opened and realize that God wants to heal our land and Make America great again and work through Mr. Donald Trump… please all who read this.. stand behind God’s chosen man…