Is Much of Trump’s Behavior, Actions & Rhetoric Focused On His Egocentric Need To Enhance His Historical Legacy?

Whether one is strongly opposed to President Donald Trump, including his quality of character, polarizing impacts, troubling rhetoric and vitriol (including his tendency to name-call), his apparent priorities, etc., or is one of the approximately 30% who seem to adore and revere him, and show it by proudly proclaiming they are part of the so-called MAGA movement, we should agree we have never in recent history witnessed anyone in that position like him! While some find that comforting and state it’s part of his appeal, etc., others seem to hope and pray we will never see another President who conducts himself or the duties of the office, in a similar manner! This article will attempt to consider whether much of Trump’s behaviors, actions and rhetoric are actually part of his plan and focus, in order to enhance his historical legacy, based on his apparent egocentric need to be considered, the best! To do so, we will examine, consider, review and discuss, briefly a few specific actions, events, and/or behaviors, and why they might be, at least to a degree, focused on Trump’s desire to ensure his historical legacy is close to his preferred narrative.

From seemingly attempting to gaslight and whitewash the horrific stain from the January 6th 2021 events at the Capitol, to denying his guilt in his civil case in NY where he was convicted of a sex crime and fined a huge sum, to his exaggerations and distortions about his business and educational successes and his acumen, to his apparent demand of a sort of loyalty test for someone to serve in his Administration, to his constant polarizing rhetoric, etc., an objective observer might be concerned about what these and other behaviors state about Trump’s quality of character (or lack of)! Repeatedly, Trump seems to demonstrate why he has been referred to as Teflon Don, because he repeatedly escapes meaningful ramifications, which nearly anyone else would have to face!

Clearly, Trump has demanded and the overwhelming majority of Republicans have deferred-to, transforming the once-proud Republican Party from the GOP (Grand Ole Party) to the POT (Party of Trump)! He has labeled anyone who doesn’t fully comply as he prefers, as a RINO (Republican in Name Only), and in a juvenile manner, calls the Democrats the Dumbocrats or Dumocrats! He seems to have very little desire to be the President for all Americans nor seek to bring Americans together for the greater good, but rather prioritizes polarization and his perceived self-interests and personal/political agenda!

Over-and-over again, Trump and his loyal sycophants in Congress and related politicians, seem willing to say nearly anything as long as it aligns with their preferred narrative! Professional political fact-checkers state Trump lies at a rate, never-before witnessed! Why would anyone, at this point, believe anything Trump says or does?

Although, almost everyone either witnessed the events of J6, live, or on tape, and the violence and illegal behaviors, as well as threatening chants, etc., Trump has consistently seemed to be trying to gaslight us by saying what we saw wasn’t what happened, blaming others, or proclaiming it was simply a democratic assembly by people who knew the election had been stolen! Of course, like much Trump says, he offers no evidence, and the dozens of cases, and recounts, clearly indicate the 2020 was one of the fairest, ever! In fact, studies over the past 20 years, and further back, indicate the rate of any even-suspicious voting is 0.0003%, a rate considered statistically irrelevant. Trump has championed the so-called SAVE America bill, falsely claiming it is about Voter ID (while in reality this bill requires specific requirements for acceptable forms of ID, which it seems is meant to reduce voting by women as well as many poorer individuals). Less than half of Americans have a Passport, and to acquire one would cost nearly $200, etc., and married women who have changed their names (to take their husband’s names, etc.) would be forced to present multiple sets of ID forms to be able to vote! How many Senior Citizens lack what the bill would require? It clearly seems that act is much more about voter suppression (predominantly against those perceived as likely NOT to vote Republican), than so-called election integrity!

Trump seems to recognize his core supporters are largely, anti-immigrant, and many of his core are less educated voters than his political opponents! He constantly appeals to their prejudices, biases, fears, etc.! Trump didn’t create ICE, but he has sought to make it less transparent, more aggressive, more willing to ignore laws, etc.! While most believe there is a need for immigration control, most also state they believe ICE should be mandated to obey the Constitution and the rule of law! It seems Trump wants to be able to claim he enhanced public safety by his immigration efforts, yet statistically, the reality is, as a group, fewer immigrants (percentage wise) commit violent crimes, than the rest of our citizens!

Both, in his first-term as well as this one, Trump emphasized enacting a new tax law, early on! His recent so-called One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) has been represented as being great for everyone, and cutting middle class taxes, yet ignores the fact that the clauses which might help some of these people are temporary with expiration dates, while those regulations favorable to the wealthiest individuals and largest corporations are permanent. A full analysis clearly shows the OBBB disproportionately helps the wealthiest group, and is why I refer to it as Welfare for the Wealthiest at the expense of the rest! Purported claims about eliminating taxes on tips, Social Security, etc., have been exposed, not as eliminating them, but as providing some partial relief, for some, temporarily! A combination of Trump’s greed, corruption, and desire to please his large donors, as well as his focus on gaslighting others to believe he helped them, follows Trump’s convenient, repetitive pattern!

Why did Trump immediately claim he was opposed to CAMUSA (an agreement Trump signed which replaced NAFTA), related to Mexico and Canada, proclaiming these 2 of the USA’s closest allies had been taking advantage of the USA? Why has he repeatedly disparaged NATO, and the EU?

Trump’s apparent love-affair with implementing tariffs, while claiming foreign nations pay for them, and not Americans, not only was a lie and distortion, but has been ruled illegal and unconstitutional by the Courts. His Administration has been ordered to refund the tariffs received, yet we have witnessed, although 95% of the costs associated with these, were passed-through to, and paid by retail consumers (us), the refunds are going to the importing corporations, meaning they will receive significant extra profits, etc.! Every reputable professional economist, as well as even an elementary Economics 101 textbook, clearly explain how tariffs work, yet Trump constantly states he knows best, and still adores the concept and seeks to maintain them! Trump is a clear example of why ignorance, arrogance and power are a dangerous combination! Is Trump a fool or crazy as a fox? Is he merely trying to gaslight and whitewash reality to neatly fit his preferred narrative?

Trump’s foreign policy has, at-best, confused many experts! Why has he demanded control over Greenland? Why has he threatened Panama? Why has he confronted Cuba? Why has he been the aggressor regarding Venezuela? Why did Trump believe there would be no negative ramifications from the bombing of Iran? Repeatedly, Trump’s narrative and apparent reality seem far-apart!

How many times has Trump claimed victory in Iran, and claimed his attacks were necessary to ensure Iran would not advance its nuclear capabilities? Yet, with that in mind, why did Trump in around 2018 (during his first-term, cancel the accords and pact, signed in 2015 in the Obama Administration? Since those accords included an enforceable nuclear inspection component, hasn’t these last 8 years, since the pact was destroyed by Trump, exacerbated the risk? It seems Trump has some sort of compulsion to cancel anything Obama achieved, and then try to replace it with something with his name on it. This seems to be the pattern in Iran, and might explain Trump’s focus on harming the ACA (also known as Obamacare)! Is this all a pattern which Trump seems to need, to put his egocentric desire for a meaningful historic legacy, far-ahead of any plan to make things better for our nation, citizens, or future generations?

Trump’s attraction and apparent need to reward Elon Musk for his major campaign donations, seemed to be a significant impetus to have Musk develop DOGE. However, as we now know, DOGE was a dangerous scam, didn’t find efficiencies or cost savings, but which seemed to be an excuse to terminate those Inspector Generals who sought to investigate either Trump or Musk, and/or their businesses! More likely, DOGE was a form of diversion, and cover for significantly reducing Social Safety Net programs, in favor of Trump’s preferred projects, etc.!

Trump’s appointment of RFK Jr. as HHS Secretary, despite the fact, Kennedy is neither a doctor, physician, or has any significant Public Health certifications, but rather has been a vax-denier, and whose major claim-to-fame is his family name, has proven to be a clear threat to the public’s health. Combined with making it more difficult for many to acquire affordable, accessible, quality healthcare (expanding the class war)! Shouldn’t affordable, accessible, quality healthcare be a right? Yet, strangely, or perhaps not, Trump hasn’t championed this, perhaps because he envies Obama’s efforts, and he prefers to demonize and blame Obama, for many things!

So, why has Trump proceeded as he has? While some prefer the narrative claiming Trump is evil with dementia, and may be at-least partly-correct, it seems there may be more to this than easily meets the eyes! Whatever else might be true about Trump, the reality seems to be, he has an uncanny ability to read the mood of the electorate, and to attract his core supporters! Trump focuses on appealing to his core’s fears, biases, prejudices, and willingness to blame others for everything which they don’t like! How has he been able to make these people believe he is some sort of Messiah, who is best for them, although nothing in Trump’s life or perceptions seems remotely akin to their experiences?

Since Trump seems to have the ability to read present politics, isn’t it probable, especially with his apparent desire to put his name on everything, and his claims that he knows more than the Generals, more than the scientists and doctors, and more than the economists and other politicians, now that Trump is officially an octogenarian, he is now focused on doing to his legacy what he has tried to do to his present-day policies, which is, to gaslight and whitewash anything which may not fit his preferred narratives, to his legacy, in order for history to treat him as a great President, which present-day polls show is far from public opinion!

Never make the mistake of underestimating Donald Trump! If you disagree with the direction of the USA, and Trump’s behaviors and actions, resist persistently, share the facts constantly, and hold Trump accountable, while never allowing us to be fooled again! What we do, or don’t do, in the near future, will indicate our future direction! There’s no longer any room for procrastination! Don’t let the gaslighting and whitewashing overwhelm reality. How we proceed may determine whether the USA’s 250-year old dream of Constitutional democracy as a key component of our republic, proceeds into the future. Don’t let lies and short-term populism harm future generations related to health, freedoms and rights, as well as ensuring we proceed into the future, handing future generations clean air and water, and a safer, healthier, wiser world! It’s up to all of us!