Trump: A Uniquely American Political Force

Donald Trump is one of the most fascinating political figures of my lifetime—perhaps the most.

In 2016, he pulled off the political equivalent of an inside straight, breaking through the Democratic “Blue Wall” with wins in Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. In my view, no other Republican in that field could have pulled off that particular victory.

He came of age in New York’s intensely competitive media environment, and it shows. He knows how to command attention and make himself the center of the story.

His dominance of the 2024 Republican primary was remarkable. He swept aside his challengers without taking part in a single primary debate. He did not need the stage to dominate the contest.

His return for a nonconsecutive second term adds another extraordinary chapter. By the scheduled end of that term in January 2029, nearly fourteen years will have passed since his June 2015 campaign launch—a span encompassing three presidential nominations and two terms in office.

And he can be hilarious. Say what you will about Trumpy: he is a uniquely American phenomenon—a true force of nature.