The Economist takes a 'dispassionate' look at 'Donald Trump's terrible appeal'
It's probably fair to say that Donald Trump is not very popular in Europe right now, especially Britain, where Parliament vigorously debated barring him from the country. Perhaps that's why The Economist attempted to explain "Donald Trump's terrible appeal" in the video below. Trump looked like a loser after coming in second in the Iowa caucuses, but after winning the New Hampshire Republican primary by a wide margin, the unidentified British narrator says, "suddenly, this braggart tycoon actually had something to boast about."
That sets the tone for the rest of the video, which is filled with interviews in which New Hampshire voters profess their love and intention to vote for Trump. What's going on? "To many dispassionate observers, Mr. Trump is an egotistical blowhard with awful ideas for America," The Economist notes, dispassionately. The magazine did find one man at a Trump rally who, after watching him speak, changed from a big supporter to a critic who called Trump a "joke" who will never be president. The first part is right, The Economist said. "As a candidate for president, Mr. Trump is a bad joke. His thuggery and his willful ignorance defy parody. And yet Mr. Trump, on the back of his performance in New Hampshire, now has a strong chance of winning the Republican nomination." Watch The Economist's analysis — which includes finding "a feeling of reckless euphoria among some of Mr. Trump's supporters" — below. Peter Weber
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.
-
Tourangelle-style pork with prunes recipeThe Week Recommends This traditional, rustic dish is a French classic
-
The Epstein files: glimpses of a deeply disturbing worldIn the Spotlight Trove of released documents paint a picture of depravity and privilege in which men hold the cards, and women are powerless or peripheral
-
Jeff Bezos: cutting the legs off The Washington PostIn the Spotlight A stalwart of American journalism is a shadow of itself after swingeing cuts by its billionaire owner
-
Judge blocks Hegseth from punishing Kelly over videoSpeed Read Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushed for the senator to be demoted over a video in which he reminds military officials they should refuse illegal orders
-
Trump’s EPA kills legal basis for federal climate policySpeed Read The government’s authority to regulate several planet-warming pollutants has been repealed
-
House votes to end Trump’s Canada tariffsSpeed Read Six Republicans joined with Democrats to repeal the president’s tariffs
-
Bondi, Democrats clash over Epstein in hearingSpeed Read Attorney General Pam Bondi ignored survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and demanded that Democrats apologize to Trump
-
El Paso airspace closure tied to FAA-Pentagon standoffSpeed Read The closure in the Texas border city stemmed from disagreements between the Federal Aviation Administration and Pentagon officials over drone-related tests
-
Judge blocks Trump suit for Michigan voter rollsSpeed Read A Trump-appointed federal judge rejected the administration’s demand for voters’ personal data
-
US to send 200 troops to Nigeria to train armySpeed Read Trump has accused the West African government of failing to protect Christians from terrorist attacks
-
Grand jury rejects charging 6 Democrats for ‘orders’ videoSpeed Read The jury refused to indict Democratic lawmakers for a video in which they urged military members to resist illegal orders
