If Donald Trump knows what’s good for him, these will be his New Year’s resolutions
Those resolutions we claim we’re going to keep in the new year continue a tradition that actually began about 4,000 years ago as promises to the gods of Babylon. What if we expected public figures in today’s world to make such vows of self-improvement, beyond just losing weight or eating healthier?
President Donald Trump, for instance, could tweet:
“While every one of my thoughts are obviously world-class and superb, I will sometimes shut my mouth. And keep it shut. That’s because I’ve been told, though I’m unsure if I trust it, that when people are allowed to make their own judgments, they tend to hold them longer and believe them stronger. Which could be a good thing for me in an election year.”
Of course, that’s more than 280 characters, but you get the point.
The ex-New Yorker might also resolve:
“In 2020, I intend to listen to Melania more and follow the example of her behavior. Why do people say she has such class? And I have such crass? Is it because she doesn’t feel compelled to share every thought — or any thoughts not prompted by a rare media question?”
It’s true. Mrs. Trump seems poised and gracious, not because she says so but because she doesn’t. She lets us see for ourselves. She could taunt “crazy” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and “deplorable” Hillary Clinton. She could complain loudly and often about the media ignoring and dismissing her, even mocking her efforts for children.
Mrs. Trump could rant online about the failing Vogue magazine putting Cardi B. on the cover instead of a highly successful international model and first lady. Or she could take on that fake-news Vanity Fair going with a drag queen out front instead of the first multi-lingual American first lady in decades. But she doesn’t. Her 2020 resolutions could include just continuing the same.
Her husband knows his massive rally crowds love his verbal strutting and ranting, the boasting and name-calling, usually for more than an hour at a time. He knows they love him being the target of the notorious Washington crowd with its smooth-talking hypocrites and the fawning media that trumpet their criticisms over his many achievements.
Trump could resolve once in a while to share a self-deprecating story with audiences. They are powerful political tools, humanizing and affecting. Vice President Mike Pence tells of enjoying a Florida beach outing with his wife Karen. A passerby recognized him and began praising the president for all he’s doing, especially the bustling economy.
Then, according to the vice president, the man added: “I don’t know what you do, but keep doing what you’re doing, too.”
Trump knows the crowds in their red MAGA hats, and the folks watching at home nodding and nudging each other, don’t really care if everything he says is strictly true. Or even anywhere close sometimes. So he doesn’t care either. Why should he? His base just loves him sticking it to those faraway faces that have been fake-smiling and promising everything all these years and not delivering anywhere near the goods.
And this president loves them loving it and him. After all, “The Apprentice” wasn’t watched by millions every week because Trump talked nicely and hired people. It was hugely successful because he fired people. Bluntly. He should know; he was executive producer.
Trump also knows from his own polling that a large number of Americans are tired by the constant combat and unending political turmoil of his White House reign. He knows too that Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer have figured out how to bait him into public outbursts, sometimes ridiculous ones when he seems to get carried away.
The president could make a private resolution to himself for the final year of his first term. He could vow that for every five times he so wants to counterpunch these people right in the puss, he will refrain four times. For a change, he will let them look juvenile and silly in the public arena. And perhaps respond instead by saying he’s too busy protecting Americans and keeping his promises from 2016 to waste time in verbal sparring matches with the likes of them.
Such reasonableness would appeal to some crucial voters in the middle come November, especially if he uses his vast campaign funds to successfully portray a Democratic nominee as extreme as they all sound at the moment. Those would be crucial swing votes for Trump, because earning 46% of the popular vote again is unlikely to suffice for the 270 electoral votes he needs to work another four years for free.
Conceivably, Trump could make all those New Year’s resolutions for his own good. But like virtually all of the resolutions each of us makes to eat better and lose weight, this president wouldn’t keep any of them beyond, probably, early February. If that long.
This story was originally published December 31, 2019 at 5:00 AM with the headline "If Donald Trump knows what’s good for him, these will be his New Year’s resolutions."