Trump hits a new low
They may have been the longest 21 seconds in the tangled history of Canada-U.S. relations.
There are those who wish Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hadn’t paused … and paused … and then paused some more when called on to comment on Donald Trump’s handling of the crisis over race and policing that has engulfed his nation.
They would have revelled in the emotional catharsis of listening to our leader dump on their leader — especially at a moment when it is so richly deserved.
But Trudeau took the wiser path, knowing that the momentary satisfaction of calling out Trump would be far outweighed by the perennial Canadian imperative of having to make the best of working with whomever is occupying the White House. And knowing, too, that Canada does not have clean hands when it comes to racism, nor does the prime minister himself, as he acknowledged once again on Tuesday.
Still, the temptation to rip into Trump must have been great. In the 1,229 days of his presidency so far, he has plumbed the depths over and over. But he truly did reach a new low this week.
With his country in pain — emerging from the COVID-19 lockdown only to enter a fresh nightmare of police killing, protest and riot — Trump offered the opposite of leadership and solace. He found the freshest wound and rubbed salt into it, all for naked political gain.
He proclaimed “I am your president of law and order,” consciously echoing the words of previous Republican presidents who successfully played on fears of restive minorities to win support among the so-called “silent majority” of conservative white voters. He threatened to call out the military to tame American cities and crush what his administration is now calling “domestic terrorism.”
Then, stung by accusations that he had been hiding in his White House bunker, he had police clear the way with tear gas and rubber bullets so he could walk across the street and stage a photo op outside a liberal Episcopal church, whose leaders were horrified at his very presence.
He hefted a Bible like a stage prop, not bothering even to open it. He had no words, even the vacuous “thoughts and prayers” incantations beloved of so many politicians, for the family of George Floyd and the millions grieving his death.
The whole performance was quite literally a sacrilege, an uncanny echo of the words of Jesus from the Book of Matthew: “Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others.” Hypocrite indeed.
But will it work? By now, we know Trump is willing to say anything, do anything, go lower than anyone thought possible, if it serves his political ends. Morality, even simple decency, isn’t part of his equation.
The law-and-order gambit is an obvious one, in that it plays on anger and fear over the riots and looting that have broken out in many cities alongside much larger peaceful demonstrations. It worked for Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan, and given how distorted American political life has become in the past 3 1⁄2 years, it might just work for Trump as well.
To their shame, some conservative Christian leaders lined up to praise Trump’s Bible-posing moment. For them, Trump’s willingness to wield his power to combat chaos in the streets outweighs all else. It has nothing to do with Christianity, but it’s possible they will help him hold onto enough votes to make the difference in November.
Or not. Perhaps Trump really has gone too far this time for a significant portion of his long-faithful “base,” or at least enough to tip the balance against him in a few key swing states, which is all that’s needed.
Whatever the outcome, this was the lowest moment of the lowest presidency — so far. There are, after all, still some 150 days to go before he must face the judgment of voters.