By Janice Johnson
American Presidential candidate, Donald trump has undoubtedly one the most ‘disruptive’ candidates yet in the US presidential electioneering history. Since June last year when he announced his bid for Presidency, the Republican Party to which he belongs, a cross-section of the American public and even the rest of the world have literally been on their toes. The GOP frontrunner, who is also a successful business man, a real estate tycoon, and a celebrity television personality continues a unique style of campaigning which preys on the fears and nerves of his constituents. His ‘gadfly’ approach has earned him both admiration and loathing in equal measure as he seamlessly hurls invectives, insults and diatribes against, his opponents, races, religion and what he terms ‘the establishment’, a sobriquet for traditional American politicians in Washington
Donald Trump shoots from the hips, riles like the average embittered American and has absolutely no apologies about whose ox is gored. He expresses himself with little or no filters. He has taken aim at Mexican immigrants, Muslims, Blacks, even battled with some journalists, and each time, talking heads swore his run was over. But each time, they had been wrong!
The Trump brand, which is heavily built on disrespect for the current political system, can be described as the Ultimate Disruptive Brand.
Below are excerpts of some of Trump’s most controversial statements which got, not just Americans, but the whole world seriously wondering if this is the President Americans deserve:
“I watched when the World Trade Center came tumbling down. And I watched in Jersey City, New Jersey, where thousands and thousands of people were cheering as that building was coming down. Thousands of people were cheering.”
This claim made by Trump at a rally in Birmingham, Ala., on Nov. 21, 2015 that “thousands of Muslims were cheering.” has since been debunked.
“I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot people and I wouldn’t lose voters.”
Trump made this statement at a rally in Iowa. Pointing his finger at the crowd like he was shooting a handgun, as he expressed confidence that he would remain atop the Republican field.
“The U.S. has become a dumping ground for everybody else’s problems. Thank you. It’s true, and these are the best and the finest. When Mexico sends its people, they’re not sending their best. They’re not sending you. They’re not sending you. They’re sending people that have lots of problems, and they’re bringing those problems with us. They’re bringing drugs. They’re bringing crime. They are rapists. And some, I assume, are good people,”
This was when he launched his bid for the presidency at Trump Tower in New York in June 2015
“Ebola patients will be brought to the U.S. in a few days. Now I know for sure that our leaders are incompetent. Keep them out of here!”
On treating aid workers with Ebola in the US.
“There is no such thing as racism anymore. We have had a black president so it’s not a question anymore. Are they saying black lives should matter more than white lives or Asian lives? If black lives matter, then go back to Africa? We will see how much they matter there.” while speaking about the protests from groups holding up signs that say, “Black Lives Matter” in South Carolina where racially-motivated violence persists.
“African Americans are very lazy. The best they can do is gallivanting around ghettoes, lamenting how they are discriminated. These are the people America doesn’t need. They are the enemies of progress. Look at African countries like Kenya for instance, those people are stealing from their own government and go to invest the money in foreign countries. From the government to opposition, they only qualify to be used as a case study whenever bad examples are required. How do you trust those who have ran away to hide here at the United States hiding behind education? I hear they abuse me in their blogs but I don’t care because even the internet they are using is ours and we can decide to switch it off from this side. These are people who import everything including matchsticks. In my opinion, most of these African countries ought to be recolonized again for another 100 years because they know nothing about leadership and self-governance.” in an article published on some websites on October 26, 2015. It was alleged that Donald Trump made a host of racist remarks at an unspecified event in Indianapolis.
Trump, who had already outraged women in the past by all manner of unflattering descriptions invited opprobrium when he asserted that women who have abortions should be punished (if there is a law against abortion). According to him during an interview on MSNBC on Wednesday March 30, 2016“Abortions should be banned in America and there has to be some form of punishment for women who go for abortions”.
Although the statement was later reversed by Trump and his campaign, the effect still lingers.
The Trump brand has remained consistent to his followers (mainly republicans) and he knows exactly who he is targeting. Trump is a skilled troll who believes negative attention is better than none. His brand understands what his market wants and is not afraid to let them know his products are made for them and only them. Trump has connected with his supporters because he says what’s on his mind. The supporters in turn, see him as the antithesis of Obama, which they have been looking for. Trump may be irritable, agitated and rough but he is everything Republicans have always wanted.
Trump is unarguably a disruptor, whose abrasive style has redefined the election experience in the America. He has made people laugh, cry and cringe since announcing his presidency bid. By challenging the status quo, he has been able to build a brand strong enough to change the history of America but then…only Americans can decide.
