He’s Triumphed in Both Culture and Politics
On Monday afternoon, Donald Trump found himself at the epicenter of American politics when he was inaugurated at the US Capitol.
In the near future, nearly every significant aspect of national discourse will orbit around Trump, who has, in many ways, taken up the mantle of both political and cultural leadership.
Critics of Trump have consistently urged that he be alienated and not “normalized.”
But did someone inform Carrie Underwood, who sang “America the Beautiful” at the inauguration, opting for an a cappella rendition when the music went awry? Or perhaps the wealthiest entrepreneurs in the nation who were visible front and center?
And what about the Village People? Did they receive the memo?
Had anyone suggested that a group created in 1977 for gay disco enthusiasts would perform at a pre-inaugural rally for a Republican president-elect deemed a cultural warrior by opponents in 2025, they would have been met with skepticism.
In reality, disco had not died; rather, it was patiently waiting for Trump to bring it back to life (in fact, disco-inspired tunes were gaining popularity even before Trump showcased his trendy YMCA dance).
How has the Democratic Party, which has strutted about with claims of being in touch and future-facing, lost a cultural contest to Donald J. Trump?
One reason could be that the party’s primary voters chose to re-nominate an octogenarian who likely wouldn’t recognize a cultural shift even with the help of attentive aides.
He was subsequently replaced by his lackluster vice president, who was the result of a manufactured campaign attempting to present her as lively and engaging, which ultimately collapsed.
During the inauguration, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris had to listen in silence as Trump criticized their record in governance.
Some observers have labeled his inaugural speech as reminiscent of American Carnage 2.0, a nod to the infamous term from his first address.
Yet, while Trump was harsh in his critique of the current situation, he also promised a “thrilling new era of national success” with grand plans ahead.
He spoke about initiating a “revolution of common sense,” a position facilitated by how much ground the opposing side had surrendered.
Trump’s emphasis on border security wouldn’t have held the same weight had the Biden administration not been so oblivious to the rising tide of illegal immigration.
His assertions regarding “record inflation” would lack substance if it weren’t for the inflationary crisis itself.
Pokiness in recognizing only two genders as official policy would seem pointless had the Democrats not embraced extreme views on gender identity.
Calls to remove race and gender from all facets of American existence would have been irrelevant if Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) hadn’t become Democratic doctrine.
Democrats appeared to operate under the assumption that their radical shift away from the mainstream would matter little as long as they were opposing a Trump who could be deemed beyond the pale.
However, if the public determined that Trump offered logic over his opponents, the endeavor to render him categorically unacceptable was destined for failure.
This doesn’t imply Trump is a bland centrist. His stance on tariffs, his altered views on January 6 (not mentioned in his address), and his intention to reclaim the Panama Canal are by no means widely accepted positions.
Regardless of the current momentum behind Trump, controversies will arise, and events will take their toll. This goodwill might be fleeting.
Nevertheless, it was Trump who commanded the spotlight on Monday, Trump who is shaping the dialogue, and Trump who, plausibly, can position himself as more centrist than his adversaries — which is a reality they have created for themselves.
Twitter: @RichLowry
