How Political Satire Normalizes Trump’s America
Donald Trump’s absurdities have generated a lot of buzz in the first month or so of his presidency, and America’s entertainers are consistently delivering nightly parodies of his actions to their viewers. Trust me, I like ironic spoofs as much as the next guy, but it has come to a point where making fun of Trump is just too easy. It seems like he gives us new material every day. Although reluctantly, I will admit that if anything the president has said is correct, it’s the fact that he gets good ratings. However, this constant satirical coverage by those entertainers has resulted in an environment of leniency in American audiences that is truly frightening.
All of us are guilty of fostering this reckless routine. We wake up with a hangover from whatever insane thing Trump said or did the night before, and we proceed through the day oblivious to what is happening in the White House. At the end of the day, we come home only to discover something new and even more outrageous that Trump has managed to pull off. Looking for an escape from the madness, we find our solace in Alec Baldwin’s impressions and Trevor Noah’s commentary. These moments of comfort are temporary, and deep down, we’re hoping to wake up from the nightmare that is Trump’s presidency. Sadly, we know the cycle will begin again as soon as we wake up in the morning.
Somehow, we’ve all been convinced that what’s happening is some sort of “new normal”. We’re now expected to sit down and take it, laughing through the chaos and confusion. This form of propaganda is encouraging Trump to do or say whatever he feels because he’s being conditioned that the only consequence is a light-hearted mockery.
As Americans, we need to continue to make known that we will not only mock his tiny hands but that we will hold those tiny hands accountable for the damage they cause. Television shows and entertainers need to stop cashing in on every idiotic move Trump makes, and we must continue to remind him that we aren’t going to take his actions lightly. This message can first be delivered by denying him the media attention that he so desperately craves. As I’m sure your parents taught you at a young age, the best way to stop a bully is to ignore him.
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