Why Donald Trump? Many are wondering why Trump has done as well as he has throughout this election. Why is Trump an appealing political figure to so many Republicans? It can’t be the double comb-over hairstyle, nor can it be his dedication to his family or traditional values. So why is he continually leading in the polls?
It was in the recent Iowa Caucus that Trump suffered his first defeat. How can what feels like an obviously bad choice continue to do so well in public opinion? As someone who is feeling a bit confused and put off by the way this election is going, I attempted to identify what makes Trump an appealing candidate.
Candor.
Donald Trump does not hold back what he is thinking and he has certainly not hidden his opinion about political correctness. (http://www.cnsnews.com/blog/michael-w-chapman/trump-we-are-going-start-saying-merry-christmas-again-thats-way-it-should-be).
While too many Americans find his bluntness refreshing, he is unwilling to go into the usual political jargon and, instead, talks straight (a little too straight, some may say).
Outsider.
Trump is not a career politician. He is a businessman, first, and that is something the public has shown great appreciation for. He is not a normal politician, he is unaffected by the normal flow of the political game and is not afraid to insult his opponents.
Independent.
Trump has nothing to lose by running for the Presidency. He doesn’t need the money or the status; those are things he had before this election and will continue to have after the election.
Exceptionalism.
Trump holds a very high opinion of America and is a proponent of American exceptionalism. He won’t allow America to be bullied by other countries and he certainly won’t allow himself to be bossed around by any other political leaders. He is determined to “make America great again!”
Strong military.
There is no doubt that Trump has no qualms about putting boots on the ground. He has promised again and again to eliminate terrorism, ISIS, and will single-handedly stop Iran from getting nuclear weapons.
Conquering debt.
Trump has declared bankruptcy four times and has come out of it every time. If he can get out of bankruptcy why can’t he get out America out of a $19 trillion debt?
Perhaps Trump’s greatest promoter is the silent majority. There are incredibly low levels of political participation and voter turnout is extremely low. Most who oppose Trump feel that their opinion does not count for much and won't make a difference, leading them to not participate. Many feel that the election system is corrupted and that it is ridiculous that Trump has even made it this far, but are discouraged from voicing their opinion, afraid to become one of those political people. Because of this silence, Trump has risen in the polls and has become the favored Republican candidate. Though there are many aspects to Trump that appeal to Republicans and conservatives, what has helped him the most, making him such a strong candidate, is the lack of political participation by Americans nationwide.
