On Christmas, the vast majority of world leaders—political, religious, and otherwise—stress the importance of family and unity or make a call for world peace.
Donald Trump would never do that.
Over the course of Christmas Eve and Day, the former president released an internet torrent of anger and animosity, mainly directed at his legal troubles. This served as a preview of the strife and self-centeredness that he is planning to bring upon the country in 2024, a crucial election year.
In an outburst directed at President Joe Biden and special counsel Jack Smith, Trump made broad and unfounded assertions about the legitimacy of his efforts to remain in office following his loss in the 2020 election, arguing that they were a necessary defence of American democracy. As a wave of hate speech washes across Trump’s Truth Social network, the president has heatedly debated immigration, comparing it to Nazi demagoguery from the 1940s, and has reiterated his belief in unfettered presidential power, which has critics worried about the possibility of authoritarianism in his administration.
With only three weeks to go until the Republican nominating contest begins, the front-runner has further demonstrated how his political platform is based on the utterly baseless accusations of electoral fraud that he made three years ago. His outbursts suggest a heated mental condition and profound denial of reality, especially considering that Christmas is a time when Americans gather with loved ones and seek calm. These things portend a gloomy future for Trump’s presidency and are sure to cast doubt on his character and fitness for the office.
While making a number of allegations that were either not true or were very debatable, Trump displayed a combination of wrath and self-pity in one of his posts.
In reference to the 91 criminal charges and four criminal trials he is currently facing, he accused Biden of presided over election tampering on Christmas Day, scarcely lifting his spirits. A “Great and Glorious Victory for those Brave and Valiant Patriots who want to make America great again” was Trump’s response to his supporters’ questions. Sending holiday greetings to all!
An ominous legal shadow looms around Trump
The enormous legal cloud over Trump’s future, particularly the investigations into alleged election involvement, seemed to be causing him a great deal of distress. He attacked Smith, who is suing him in a federal court in Washington, DC, and supported the arguments put forward by his legal team, who said that his efforts to nullify the 2020 election were just the president’s responsibility to guarantee a fair and free election. The accusations will be reviewed by an appeals court, which will likely lead to their ultimate review by the US Supreme Court. After the Colorado Supreme Court determined that Trump could not run for office due to the 14th Amendment’s prohibition on insurrectionists, Trump resorted to lash out at the court. It is anticipated that the US Supreme Court will also hear this matter.
Some candidates, such as Mike Pence, who was more outspoken in his 2020 description of Trump’s wrongdoing, have already dropped out of the primary race after seeing their campaigns flop. Outside of New Hampshire, the first primary state, former New Jersey governor Chris Christie’s campaign, which he has centred around criticising Trump’s actions while in office, is hardly making a dent.
Using a holiday to further his political agenda is nothing new for Trump. Not to mention his insane social media posts. As we approach next month’s Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary, this window into the Republican front-runner’s thoughts during the Christmas season takes on added significance. Polls indicate that he has a strong chance of defeating Biden in a potential 2024 showdown.
Voting for Trump in the presidential primaries by millions of Americans demonstrates that they are unconcerned by his actions and growing radicalism. If he is nominated by the Republicans, tens of millions more will likely support him as he attempts to make an incredible political comeback and become the second former president to win a non-consecutive second term. In Trump’s case, he left Washington in disgrace, days after his supporters attacked the US Capitol on January 6.
There are other facets to Trump’s appeal to these voters. Despite the many challenges, many Republicans look back on his presidency as a time of economic prosperity and triumph. For them, Trump’s relentless attacks on media and legal institutions as well as his perceived attacks on elite experts are part of a legitimate movement against a political and governance system that they feel has let them down. And when Trump joked earlier this month that he would be a tyrant just on “day one” of a new president, he was appealing to the fantasy of some of his supporters who want a strongman leader whose mistakes contribute to his appeal.
The fact that a large portion of the electorate is willing to give Trump another chance is indicative of the current political climate in the United States, as we enter an election that, based on his actions, is likely to keep the nation mired in a never-ending loop of political discontent and rage.
For the holiday season, world leaders pray for peace.
At a stressful time when hostilities are raging in Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan, and elsewhere, other world leaders’ speeches have underlined the need for reconciliation and peace, in contrast to Trump’s gloomy and angry mood this Christmas. For example, in his yearly Urbi et Orbi Christmas blessing, Pope Francis pleaded for an end to Israel’s military operation and its “appalling harvest” of civilian casualties, and he demanded the release of Israeli prisoners and an end to the Israel-Hamas war. “At a time of increasingly tragic conflict around the world, I pray that we can also do all in our power to protect each other,” King Charles, the British monarch, said in his Christmas Day broadcast, further lamenting the reality of world wars. “The words of Jesus: ‘Do to others as you would have them do to you.'” the King continued, “Seem more than ever relevant.”
Just like Trump, Biden, who could face off against him in the general election next year, sent a Christmas message to Americans via social media, but with a much different tone. “On this Christmas Eve, my hope is that you and your loved ones will pause for some peaceful contemplation and discover the tranquilly that lies at the heart of the Christmas narrative,” Biden expressed on X. I pray that this quiet night brings you tranquilly. As well as the love and support of those around you.
On Monday afternoon, though, Trump’s anger was evident. He sent Christmas greetings to “World Leaders, both good and bad, but none of which are as evil and’sick’ as the THUGS we have inside our Country” in an incredibly strange and impure post of his. May Biden and Smith burn in hell, Trump wrote as a parting shot at them. ANOTHER YEAR OF GOOD CHEER!
