Eating Crow

By Matthew Clark

This July 1st, 2025 I am eating crow. Last week I damned the United States President Donald Trump as a warmonger for ordering the bombing of Iran by United States military forces. Almost immediately after that article was posted the President announced he had negotiated a ceasfire between Iran, the United States, and Israel. When the Israelis made moves to renew hostilities President Trump refreshingly took the Israeli government to task for doing so. As of now the ceasefire is holding up.

Given the history of the Middle East, particularly since World War Two, the odds of the ceasefire lasting is doubtful. Nevertheless the author must admit wrong in assessing the American Presidents motives. Like so many other individuals I have underestimated the "Donald."

Why is the current holder of the Oval Office continually underestimated on such a large scale by such a large contingent of the general public? For the better part of a decade the most unlikely of politicians has scored repeated successes at the expense of naysayers baffled by the Presidents appeal. Why is this so?

First and foremost the vast majority of people's judgement of Donald Trump is clouded through an emotional lens. Secondly when the emotions do subside those same individuals are dishonest in their motives for disliking the President. This means that there is a constant repetition of unintelligent outbursts which, when committed by a large percentage of the population, allows President Trump to coast from one political triumph to another. This being the case some observations are in order.

Donald Trump is a very effective politician. He has twice won the United States Presidency against extrodinary odds. In Progressive America of 2016, and 2024, the voters were quite prepared to elect a woman (2016) or a woman of colour (2024). In each case the gender enhanced the candidates public appeal. Furthermore the added factor of being a woman of colour (2024) increased the advantage of Mr. Trumps opponent. Yet in each case an old white businessman emerged victorious. Why? Simply put Donald Trump was a better communicator than his opponents. While the Presidents speeches are unorthodox (to say the least) he effectively repeats his message (sometimes ad nauseam) and does so in such a way that his policies are easy to understand. The voter comprehends the President's plan! Proof of this statement is the fact most individuals, including Donald Trumps political opponents, have an informative idea of what "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) means. Tariffs, deregulation, greater manufacturing sector, secure borders, less foreign engagement, are associated with MAGA. What were Ms. Clinton's and Ms. Harris political platforms? The vast majority of people, even the ladies political supporters, could not articulate what the candidates planned to do if they acquired the Presidentcy, or why they wanted the position in the first place!

Another advantage the President has is his lack of sacred cows. Over the years he has put the CIA, FBI, NSA, DOJ, NFL, and NBA in his crosshairs. When DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) revealed corrupt NGO's (such as Chelsea Clinton's $1,000-$2,000 per meal fee to feed hungry Africans), or how USAID had strayed from it's original mission to become an arm of State Department foreign policy, Donald Trump displayed the political courage to defund or disband these institutions. He repeated this tactic with academic institutions who, despite their prosperity, were pilfering the American taxpayer. People respond to this type of political courage. Some folks oppose the action(s), even more support it.

Why do so many individuals react so emotionally to Donald Trump? For the well to do Mr. Trump is a threat because he has brought class struggle back into western politics. At the end of the cold war left of centre political parties abandoned the lower economic classes. They did this to get funding from the upper hierarchy of the financial system. Bill Clinton famously said Democrats could abandon the lower classes and still get their vote because "they had nowhere else to go!" Well in 2016 Donald Trump gave these people somewhere to go. His economic policy(s) give preference to 'Muscle Labour.' If you are an Educator, Financier, Lawyer, ect. you will be standing in line behind the factory owner, and his/her blue collar employees, when it comes to getting the Presidents ear. This turn of events can become most unsettling for those who were use to being first in line.

If you are left wing the President is a particularly distasteful politician due to the fact he has transformed class struggle into a RIGHT WING STRUGGLE. No longer is the class struggle waged on a strictly economic plane. Under Mr. Trump nationalism and culture are equal factors to everyday economics in the conduct of class conflict. The enemy is not just elite billionaires (of which ironically Mr. Trump is one) yet it is also against Globalists (academics, executives, NGO's, transnational politicians, etc.) and political progressives. Compared to this state of affairs the old Trade Union disputes appear almost sedate. As a result the left wing political movement is suffering noticably. More and more young constituents are throwing their support behind populist lawmakers. (As for example what is occurring in Europe).

The U.S. President has managed to attract strong women to his cause (Ms. Bondi is the latest example) while showing complete disdain for the feminist movement. Mr. Trumps' contempt for feminism is indicated by the fact he rarely, if ever, mentions it. Feminism is completely disregarded within the Trump administration. Consider this against the backdrop of Progressivism in which the feminist movement is, arguably, the number one consideration in almost all progressive political policies. With this being the case it does not take much imagination to understand the antipathy displayed by so many to President Trump. Or why just as many, if not more, voters support him!

This has been a very short post on why so many people underestimate Donald Trump. If you are a Trump supporter it seems likely you will judge these observations as accurate. If you are an opponent of the American President you might be wise to give them consideration. At least, that is, if you do not want to eat continual crow.