What Italy Can Teach America About Donald Trump
What Italy Can Teach America About Donald Trump
SEPT. 18, 2015
By: Beppe Severgnini
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To dismiss Mr. Trump as a joke, as many Italians did with Mr. Berlusconi early on, and many Americans continue to do with Mr. Trump, would be a mistake. To take him seriously is also wrong. So use your sense of humor. Don’t take umbrage at his every offensive comment; his supporters don’t care, and the added chatter only helps him.
Next, don’t obsess over him. The American news and social media seem hypnotized by Mr. Trump. That’s not surprising. He is unusual, and heaven knows Western countries need some spice in the democratic process.
But to obsess over him is exactly what the man wants. “You see?” he can say. “They all gang up on me, those establishment types!” Ross Perot took advantage of the media’s love for the odd and novel in 1992; today, thanks to the Internet, it’s easier to spread the word.
Soon Mr. Trump’s act will become repetitive, so just speed up the process. Make him boring. Force him to be specific. For now, he can ignore questions about how, exactly, he would deport the estimated 11 million immigrants living in America without legal papers. Don’t stop asking. Eventually people will see through his charade. It might not seem that way now, but trust me — it worked with Mr. Berlusconi, once we figured out how to do it.
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