Just how many Donald Trumps are there?
U.S. president changed gears, Harry Sterling writes.
Following his recent address to members of Congress, some may wonder if there actually are two Donald Trumps.
There’s the controversial vain millionaire with a watermelon-sized ego, who somehow took on the Republican Party’s entrenched establishment and systemically defeated the party’s many would-be presidential contenders despite having belittled most rivals before winning. That Trump then went on to also unexpectedly defeat the Democrats’ Hillary Clinton, whom he also publicly ridiculed nonstop despite being embroiled in a scandal over his alleged sexual actions against numerous women. Even after winning the presidency, Trump continued to be a source of controversy, denouncing anyone questioning his policies, especially the press.
His attempt last month to ban entry to the U.S. by nationals of seven fundamentally Muslim Middle East states caused chaos and was roundly condemned by many Americans, as well as the international community. Claims that members of his newly installed administration had contacts with Russian officials before his election continue to be extremely controversial, even resulting in demands that Trump’s Attorney General resign for not acknowledging meeting with the Russian ambassador.
However, despite seemingly never-ending scandals, Trump continues to enjoy the support of many Americans who see him as the one leader pledged to restore the country they once knew. But his arrogance and ill-conceived policies have polarized American society.
Anti-Trump demonstrations even occur in other countries, including Canada, where thousands protested his attempt to ban Middle East citizens from entering the U.S. Anti-Trump groups in Vancouver protested against his policies during the opening of the new Trump Hotel in Vancouver.
Interestingly, despite Trump’s personal commitment to the security of Israel and the Jewish community in the U.S., American Jewish organizations have called on Trump to significantly increase security measures to prevent growing anti-Semitism. Canadian Jewish organizations have called for similar measures.
The contradictory views regarding who truly is the real Donald Trump were in evidence during the president’s address before a joint session of Congress. With a few exceptions, Trump presented himself and his policies in relatively moderate terms. Even critics admitted his relatively non-contentious presentation was an improvement on his frequently confrontational approach, particularly toward the media, which he continually denounces for spreading “false news”. (Trump recently banned several prominent U.S. newspapers and CNN from attending White House press briefings.)
That confrontational Donald Trump was mostly absent on Feb. 28, replaced by a seemingly milder Donald Trump claiming he wanted to be president of all Americans, with the Republican and Democratic parties working together.
The media-savvy Trump demonstrated his personal commitment to all Americans by having several individuals in the public gallery stand up at timely intervals as examples of why his policies in various fields were intended for all citizens, regardless of their backgrounds.
Among those presented were wives of two policemen reportedly killed by an illegal immigrant, a black female student from a poor family who was helped to obtain a postgraduate university education, a young incapacitated woman who had survived thanks to American medical advances, and finally, the dramatic appearance of the tearful wife of Navy Seal William Owens, killed in a controversial commando attack in Yemen in January, an operation Trump had authorized. As anticipated, Trump expressed his and the nation’s gratitude for her late husband’s bravery, resulting in a prolonged bipartisan ovation lasting several minutes, while the widow stood stoically with tear-filled eyes. No one is likely to forget that moment, especially not the young widow’s father-in-law, who days earlier angrily denounced Trump publicly for trying to justify his approval of the questionable military raid in Yemen, resulting in the death of his son and numerous Yemeni civilians.
The question still to be answered now is what kind of leaders and policies can best unite the American people as the United States tries to meet the complex challenges awaiting that nation in coming days.