On the 2024 campaign trail, Donald Trump promised his supporters many times to be “your retribution.” By now it’s pretty clear that his retribution presidency isn’t about his supporters at all and never was. It was always about Trump and his retribution against anyone or anything that he considers an enemy. So pathological is Trump’s need for vengeance for any perceived slight, no matter how small, the old expression “cut off your nose to spite your face” seems like it was written just for him. But in this case, he spites our face—America’s face—in pursuit of retaliation.
After the horrific shootings in Minnesota last weekend, there were calls from many to “turn down the temperature” in the country. The problem is, we’ve been stuck at this temperature for the last decade because Trump is thoroughly incapable of lowering it. Nor does he want to. Even if his comms office manages to put out a fairly respectable response to a tragedy, he will ultimately shit all over it. He did it when Joe Biden’s cancer diagnosis was announced, and he did it when answering questions about the tragedy in Minnesota. He literally can’t help himself. The man has no decency, shame, or self-discipline. And he has no intention of turning down the temperature because there’s nothing in it for him. He thrives on division. It’s what gives him his strength.
We know all too well what this retribution presidency looks like—a complete breakdown of the social contract. So let’s not belabor the point any further. What I want to talk about is what a redemption presidency might look like…...
