Trump needs distractions and figured heading to a famous military base to address troops would provide one. So, he went to Ft. Bragg to talk up the Maduro arrest carried out in part by troops from there. Trump of course fancies himself as the bigliest tough guy “warrior” ever, ever EVER and that the troops would shower him with praise that would make his 2016 MAGA rally goers seem comatose. Things didn’t exactly work out that way yesterday. Most of the cheering/applause had to be provided by Trump’s staffers!
If it weren’t for the expense to taxpayers for this little stunt it would be funny. Trump has the lowest ratings with the military of any Republican President since such tracking began. The annual Military Times survey has gotten more scientific in recent years but if I’m not mistaken was conducted before the reaction to that debacle of calling in top officers and enlisteds from around the world to Quantico last fall. The bad numbers would have been worse if they’d waited until the end of October!
Still, Trump assumes that since there are in fact MAGAs in uniform that he’s equally admired, even beloved by ALL the troops. I wonder if he noticed their reaction, or rather lack of reaction during his rambling address. According to Raw Story they did respond okay when he asked if they’d gotten those $1776 checks. Most of the positive reaction was from staff:
According to the Post’s Isaac Arnsdorf, Trump’s claims did not evoke much of a response from the crowd.
“Most of the uniformed service members refrained from reacting during Trump’s speech other than raising phones to take photos or videos,” the Post is reporting. “They mostly left the applause and cheers to his staff and the assembled Republican politicians, including the home state’s Sen. Ted Budd and Reps. Richard Hudson, Brad Knott and David Rouzer.”
I feel bad for the troops who’d rather have been anywhere but at that half-assed ‘use troops as props’ rally. Training. An early start to weekend liberty and some actual fun. Alas, if the C.O. assigns units to show up there’s no choice in the matter. What I worry about is that the clear lack of enthusiasm will have been noticed by Trump. Or worse Hegseth. It’s all too easy to imagine unofficial orders making their way down the chain of command that by god troops assigned to attend a Trump event WILL f**king blow the roof off the place with cheers. Pity the poor senior enlisteds who will be forced to shake hands with Trump and say how proud they are to have him as Commander-in-Chief complete with ‘tears in their eyes’ (just a dab of pepper spray at the corners will do the trick)
We used to talk about how those 2016 rallies and the ones that went on during his first term were the ‘drug’ that energized, even sustained Trump. We were I think more accurate about that than we knew. During his hiatus from the WH while Biden was President the frequency dropped noticeably. The crowds weren’t as big or lively and Trump wasn’t getting the love, the political adrenaline shot he craved. NEEDED. It became a downward spiral.
All that old energy is gone. Now, even with a command (literally) audience of people who typically would cheer their brains out for a Republican President staff have to provide most of the cheers and applause. Elected Republicans might still be fearful of him and yes, he’s still got MAGA support but yesterday is one more indication that Trump is running on fumes. Or ‘special candy’ from former doctor now mere Fluffer Ronnie Jackson.
The curtain has been pulled back on the Wizard and he’s nothing but a fat old orange painted buffoon in an ill-fitting suit. Slowly morphing to the Wicked Witch mewling “I’m melting…” Stout hearts folks. Trump is on the defensive and we need to keep the pressure on. I don’t know what the odds are in Vegas on him surviving until the end of the his current term but I assume it looks bad for him. At the rate he’s going, when not even speaking to a group of soldiers one might reasonably assume would have been if not enthusiastic at least provided clearly visible support I wonder if his spirit will get so low he doesn’t last out to the end of this year.
Friends, I know everyone begs you for money. I promise, among all those asking for spare change, we are the smallest and the hardest working. We’re a group of old, disabled people, except for one writer in his mid-50s. The rest of us are in our sixties and seventies, and this is a labor of love. All we’re asking for is the chance to keep telling the truth about Trump and help ensure democracy survives. If you can help, please do. Thank you. Ursula
weren’t those checks just re-purposed from a housing allowance (one time?) or something. call one thing or something else it was something they were already going to get anyway and i’m sure they all know it.