Three cultural catchphrases seem appropriate to use in understanding President Donald Trump. The first comes from Ronald Reagan’s 1980 debate with Jimmy Carter, when Reagan famously said, “There you go again.” He used the line in response to Carter’s accusing Reagan of intending to cut Medicare. The phrase feels fitting now, with Trump once more forcefully insisting that the 2020 election was stolen from him.
The second catchphrase comes from the 1984 Wendy’s commercial: “Where’s the beef?” In that ad, the phrase was used to challenge someone who makes a big claim but can’t back it up with substance or evidence. According to state election officials, federal agencies and courts, there is no evidence that the 2020 U.S. presidential election was stolen.
The third catchphrase comes from William Shakespeare: “Hoist with his own petard.” The phrase means that someone is blown up or defeated by their own scheme or device; that a plot backfires on its creator. Reports indicate that Trump exaggerated just how imminent the Iranian threat was in order to justify going to war. He appeared to believe it would be a quick and easy win, but it has instead turned into an unmitigated disaster.
David B. McCoy, Massillon
This article originally appeared on The Repository: We can interpret Trump through cultural catchphrases | Letter
Reporting by The Repository / The Repository
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By The Repository | USA TODAY Network
