America's 5 stages of Trump grief, as told by 23 headlines
America has moved from denial to acceptance. It hasn't been easy.
After Donald Trump's Tuesday sweep through Florida, Illinois, and North Carolina, it seems clear: Barring some unprecedented intervention from the RNC, Donald Trump is very likely going to be the Republican Party's nominee for president of the United States.
This hasn't been easy for many Americans to accept. Indeed, as Trump surged, much of the nation went through the five stages of grief: first, laughing off Trump's candidacy as a joke, then getting really mad about the joke going on too long, then attempting to talk ourselves into thinking maybe Trump wouldn't actually be that bad, then just being really darn depressed about the whole thing. Only now does America seems to realize just how real the Trump phenomenon is.
As told by the headlines, here is the rise of Trump and the trajectory of America's grief over it:
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Stage one: Denial
"Stop pretending — Donald Trump is not running for president" —New York Post, May 30, 2015
"Why Donald Trump isn't a real candidate, in one chart" —FiveThirtyEight, June 16, 2015
"Donald Trump is running for president and it's going to be so hilarious" —Mother Jones, June 16, 2015
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
"Most Americans don't consider Donald Trump a serious candidate" —The Huffington Post, June 23, 2015
"The real reason why Donald Trump will never be president" —Vice, Aug. 13, 2015
Stage two: Anger
"Trump is a bad deal for the GOP" —National Review, July 8, 2015
"Republicans try to cancel the Donald Trump show" —The Atlantic, July 9, 2015
"GOP ganging up to trounce Trump? —Fox Business, Aug. 19, 2015
"OK, this Trump thing isn't funny anymore" —The Daily Beast, Aug. 27, 2015
Stage three: Bargaining
"A surprising number of Republicans think Donald Trump is their best hope in 2016" —The Washington Post, Oct. 14, 2015
"Private memo lays out how the GOP would deal with Donald Trump as its nominee" —The Washington Post, Dec. 2, 2015
"Trump may be a bigot, but to the GOP, he's still better than Clinton" —Mashable, Dec. 8, 2015
"America, please don't do this to us" —The Huffington Post, Feb. 29, 2016
Stage four: Depression
"Donald Trump is a huge embarrassment for America" —CNN, Dec. 10, 2015
"Trump's nomination would rip the heart out of the Republican Party" —The Washington Post, Jan. 7, 2016
"Three scariest words: President Donald Trump" —CNN, Feb. 1, 2016
"GOP wakes up to Trump nightmare" —Politico, Feb. 23, 2016
Stage five: Acceptance
"Ron Paul admits Donald Trump, not his son, will probably be the GOP nominee" —New York, Jan. 20, 2016
"Republican elites surrender to Trump" —The Washington Post, Jan. 22, 2016
"President Trump is now a possibility. And it's terrifying." —The Daily Beast, Jan. 31, 2016
"Robbins: It's over; Trump is going to be the Republican nominee" —CNN, Feb. 27, 2016
"Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton nominations look likely after big wins" —The Chicago Tribune, March 16, 2016
"Donald Trump is unstoppable," —The Week, March 16, 2016
-
Why more and more adults are reaching for soft toys
Under The Radar Does the popularity of the Squishmallow show Gen Z are 'scared to grow up'?
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Magazine solutions - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025
By The Week US Published
-
Magazine printables - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - December 27, 2024 / January 3, 2025
By The Week US Published
-
US election: who the billionaires are backing
The Explainer More have endorsed Kamala Harris than Donald Trump, but among the 'ultra-rich' the split is more even
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
By The Week UK Published
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
1 of 6 'Trump Train' drivers liable in Biden bus blockade
Speed Read Only one of the accused was found liable in the case concerning the deliberate slowing of a 2020 Biden campaign bus
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Biden, Trump urge calm after assassination attempt
Speed Reads A 20-year-old gunman grazed Trump's ear and fatally shot a rally attendee on Saturday
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published