"Whenever Donald Trump acts like a jerk, says something stupid, or insults someone with his offensiveness, all which seems to happen hourly, his press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, trots out the same tired defense: "authenticity." Keep up with the latest in LGBTQ+ news and politics. Sign up for The Advocate's email newsletter. She says with a straight face that it's just Trump being his "authentic self." It's supposed to excuse him from the standards of decency that apply to every other politician, diplomat, and world leader."
"She says that's why people voted for him - he's authentic. Right! It wasn't grocery bills or gas prices, it was because Trump is just such a lovable, authentic type of guy. The latest example of his authenticity came this week when Trump used Charlie Kirk's memorial service, of all places, to preach hate instead of offering comfort. When reporters asked Leavitt the next day if it was appropriate for Trump to spew bile at a quasi-religious service, she smugly explained it away as authenticity."
"She always does. I've heard it so many times, and it never ceases to amaze me that anyone thinks this line works. He's about as authentic as Botox. Unfortunately, it does, at least for his base. Many Americans have become numb to Trump's behavior. They now expect him to be a jerk, to say something stupid like warning pregnant women never to take Tylenol, which was reminiscent of the day when he told us drinking Clorox might get rid of COVID."
Karoline Leavitt frames Donald Trump's offensive remarks and insults as 'authenticity,' using that label to excuse behavior that would violate normal standards of decency expected of politicians and world leaders. Trump repeatedly uses high-profile occasions, such as Charlie Kirk's memorial service, to attack others instead of offering comfort. Many Americans report growing numbness and outrage fatigue, leading some supporters to celebrate his vulgarity as refreshing while opponents remain horrified. This dynamic reduces political repercussions and emboldens further provocation. Observers outside the United States express dismay at the normalization of such conduct.
Read at Advocate.com
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]