Trump and the politics of resentment

These are strange times. That´s why someone like Donal Trump is now in the centre of the stage. And then we find ourselves spending hours on him and his theatrics.

That´s what many of us did yesterday, as he was delivering his “major speech” on foreign policy. After the delivery, we all decided to write about it. Basically, to state that his views are naïve, simplistic, unaware of the complexities of state relations and so on. Fine.

But we also forgot that he was not speaking to us. His audience was the down-to-earth white American that feels the world of today is not responding to his or her preoccupations. Those who believe America is losing influence, international prestige and job opportunities.

I am afraid they might have liked his acting, the words, the conviction and the simplicity that comes from a very effective, but empty slogan, “America first”.

Trump might not win the presidential contest. But he is certainly contributing to harden the views and the resentments of those in the US that believe they are left behind by the elites. That will have some very serious long term consequences.