The Secret Behind Donald Trump

Over the past eight years, President Barack Obama has changed the way Republicans feel about the United States’ future. Obama’s foreign policy, including his approval of the Iran Deal and his domestic decisions have left many working class citizens hoping for something drastically different. An inefficient, insurance company-dominated healthcare system, a subservient stance towards other nations and a suffocating, erratic economy have driven most peoples’ concerns over the past few years, and Donald Trump’s campaign certainly attacks these problems with a contagious ferocity and conspicuous force. I believe Trump does not represent the values of the Republican Party; instead, he represents the core of voters who are tired of the status quo regime and want immediate change, no matter if they are Democratic, independent or Republican. Yet Trump’s change is not the type of change the Republican Party advocates; it is the type of change that divides Americans and prioritizes short term needs over long term goals.For many voters, Trump represents wealth and success in business, and this belief translates to his representation in the presidential campaign. Trump’s powerful and radical rhetoric makes him stand out amongst the plethora of Republican candidates who support traditional conservative values and offer no “unique” solution to the troubles facing America today. An expert businessman, Trump uses his money to his advantage when staging his campaign. His wealth gives him an aura of dominance as more and more people perceive the United States’ lack of engagement in international affairs as a sign of a weak, unassertive leadership. Trump’s reputation as an accomplished businessman imparts in his supporters hope that perhaps he can stabilize our economic situation and assert his accumulated finesse in business-like interactions with China and other countries that concern America’s interests.Trump has floated in the past from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party and refused to commit to the latter in the first debate. Perhaps the decision was fueled by his uncertainty, or perhaps he was trying to stand out amongst the huge mass of other Republican candidates. Nonetheless, Trump hopes to establish himself as an unconventional candidate who isn’t afraid to voice our most repugnant thoughts. To appeal to voters, Trump simplifies many domestic and foreign issues, therefore connecting with the public and allowing voters from all professions and socioeconomic levels to understand his goals. But can Trump run a country on ideas that are grounded in intuition and not in expertise? Can a president sacrifice political finesse for simplicity in the face of popularity?In the 2016 Presidential campaigns, with the tension between liberals and conservatives exacerbated, voters seem to congregate around the most polarized candidates. It is not a surprise that Sen. Bernie Sanders’ support has grown drastically over the past year. His supporters distrust the current government and feel that Hillary Clinton’s affiliation with the Obama administration preclude her from implementing radical changes, most notably the redistribution of wealth and the dramatic increase in taxes. Do you see a theme in the campaign? Voters don’t just want change—they want something opposite of what we have now. They want to hear the most left or the most right policies.Unlike other Republican candidates, Donald Trump has a clean, spotless political record. Take, for example, Jeb Bush, who served as Florida’s governor for seven years and inherited his father’s reputation. During his campaign, Bush not only carries the most clichéd Republican ideals, but also the image he and his father created over the previous decades. What a burden, right? Trump, on the other hand, carries with him a sparkling, gleaming brand name, a reputation for earning and managing billions of dollars and an ever-evolving set of authentic ideas.