Search for the historical Trump:
Donald Trump is not a historical figure but is actually a compilation of 4 distinct sources.
A thread 🧵
It seems there are actually four sources being used by the author of the Trump narrative. The oldest two sources are the paleocon (P) and libertarian (L) sources.
A later neocon (N) source was then added to make the narrative more acceptable, and the final MAGA (M) redactor combined these distinct sources into a single narrative.
The P source can be seen in Trump’s more traditionalist views, such as discussions on immigration or racial issues.
The L source can be seen in Trump’s deregulation, his general anger towards the establishment, and his isolationist foreign policy. These issues overlap with the P source, suggesting these could be authentic sayings of a historical Donald Trump.
The L source is actually the result of the failed messianic movement of the Ron Paul campaign. When Ron Paul’s campaign failed, this energy was transferred into the mythical person of Trump.
We can also see the messianic roots of Trumpism in the Trump narrative’s ending. Many supporters still believe he will return to reclaim the presidency and save America.
This ending is clearly borrowed from Egyptian religion. Trump replaces Osiris, and Biden replaces Seth.
Since the P and L sources are the earliest, dating back to 2015 and the primaries, they must have been written first.
Once Trump became the nominee, the influences of the N source become evident. For example, Trump’s calls to bomb ISIS show the establishment’s additions to the narrative.
The N source is so influential that it is hard to distinguish it from the L source. However, the N author clearly disliked the P source, as it downplays Trump’s social views.
As these sources were passed down through oral tradition, many accretions were added. For example, does it seem reasonable to assume this is a real tweet from a US president?
Donald J. Trump (Tweet):
North Korean Leader Kim Jong Un just stated that the “Nuclear Button is on his desk at all times.” Will someone from his depleted and food-starved regime please inform him that I too have a Nuclear Button, but it is a much bigger & more powerful one than his, and my Button works!
— 7:49 PM, 2 Jan 2018
Other scholars think this meets the criterion of embarrassment and so can be said to be an authentic statement of the historical Donald Trump. However, since Trump’s tweets don’t exist (conveniently explained away by the banning in the M source), there is no way to prove this.
These various sources were then synthesized by the M source. Donald of the P source and Trump of the L and N sources are made to be the same character. Trump’s contradictory statements are explained away by all these policies being about making America great again.
However, some gaps in the narrative still exist. For example, to explain away the abundance of secondary characters, the redactor had to make Trump constantly fire his cabinet members. In addition, his wives in the L and N sources are made ex-wives.
Is there any truth to the Trump narrative? It seems that Trump could be loosely based on a person attested to in many contemporary sources, Donald Drumf. However, the differences are so large it is likely only the name is taken. Further research ought to be done here though.
https://x.com/omnologos/status/1870847422454280672
