When he first announced his intent to run for the Presidency on the Republican ticket, many people wrote him off. After all, he had never run for office, is a brash, outspoken and unapologetic opportunist—and a billionaire who is accustomed to not answering to anyone. He also has a long history of supporting Democrats (including Hillary), has been married three times, has expressed many liberal views in the past, and would never appeal to the conservative Republican base, right? Apparently not right, it seems many people underestimated the Donald and how his unorthodox way of telling it like it is would affect voters.
He came charging out of the gate with comments about Mexicans that would have ended anyone else’s political aspirations. Then went on to attack a popular female, conservative, media professional—actually making statements that were crude and graphic and yes, personal. Again, people defended and supported him. In the months since, he made fun of a New York Times reporter with a physical disability, has made personal attacks against most of his opponents for the nomination—and essentially goes after anyone who says or does anything he doesn’t like, and he does this in a very personal and adolescent way. Name calling, graphic sexual references, labeling, and stereotyping are what we now expect from him—and no one even seems to flinch anymore.
Even more troubling is how some of his opponents have taken a page or two from his playbook and tried this same approach—with dismal results. When they do it, they are labeled as childish, without substance and un-presidential. So what is it about Trump that allows him to not only get away with it, but to increase his popularity because of it?
The answer might be found by taking a closer look at the women in Trump’s life and his relationships with them. His first wife, Ivanna was the most outspoken. She has given interviews in the past in which she said he had raped her during sex. She also talked about some of his unorthodox views and aggressive business practices. Yet she defends him completely now. She has been quoted as saying he would make a great President, that she has encouraged him to run and that they are good friends. His second wife has been very silent on the topic of trump, avoiding any media scrutiny during recent months. She had been quoted as saying she still loved him years after their divorce and they have one daughter, who he was not close to while she was growing up but financially supported. Apparently this daughter has moved closer to him now and to his other children. Then there is Donald’s current wife. She fits his type—model looks, sexy,–and in her case, a mostly silent partner. She has had virtually no role in his race since he announced except to walk and stand behind him—looking beautiful and supportive.
We have to wonder—is it the money? Does he have something over them? Has he bought their allegiance and silence? Or is it something else? Why do they defend and support him, especially Ivanna who has always been somewhat outspoken and independent? Then there are his daughter, who appear to adore him. They are involved in his business dealings, so their relationships have value in that sense. Like their mothers, they have had little to say so far—but their body language screams their loyalty to the Donald.
He insults women, he has a history of being physically aggressive and controlling, he has cheated on past wives—but still they love him. Maybe it has to do with the Stockholm Syndrome phenomenon—in which hostages express sympathy, empathy and concern for their captors. Somehow they comes to identify with them. Maybe this is what the Donald has—the ability to get folks to identify with him, to see him as a victim and/or someone who has been misunderstood or wronged in some way. When the establishment attacks-they go on the defensive for him, explaining why he says what he says and offering reasons why he is in the right and they are the ones who have done wrong.
Whatever it is that The Donald has, no one else can seem to imitate. Now we must wait to see just how many people feel powerless and wronged enough to defend his behavior and perhaps help him win the nomination.
