The founding myth of Trumpism is a fake

Former President Donald Trump has always kept a keen eye on the crowd size of his events, but his high-profile debut down an escalator and into the political world may not have been what it seemed. In the latest episode of The Point, CNN’s Chris Cillizza explores where Trump’s crowd size obsession began.

SOURCES AND FURTHER READING:

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Michael Cohen sentenced to three years in prison after admitting he covered up Trump’s ‘dirty deeds’

Trump aide says campaign paid actors to appear at 2016 announcement despite earlier denial

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President Trump’s crowd-size estimates: Increasingly unbelievable

Trump shakes up campaign leadership as he struggles in latest polls

About me:

I was named "best dressed" in 7th grade. That, along with being CNN's editor at large and author of the daily "Point" newsletter are my proudest achievements. Look for me here every Tuesday and Thursday to find out what’s really going down in politics.

CREDITS

Writer: Chris Cillizza

Producer: Moira Donohue

The Point Editor: Leigh Munsil

Video Editor: Steven Sevilla

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70 comments

  1. It hurts you the most when you trust someone blindly, and that person proves to you.,
    You are really blind…..💙

    1. @Bluesjet1234 Hmmmm…. Ya know what I noticed… You didn’t answer the question…. You guys have to stop thinking this is a good idea. You think if you don’t claim the right, you don’t have to try and defend it, while your trying to bash the left. Except there are 2 very big things wrong with that.
      1. By not wanting to even claim the side you’re on, you’re free we admitting you know how bad they are.
      2. It’s always hugely obvious that you’re on the right because, despite not claiming it, the only thing you guys ever do is spout out right-wing talking points, propaganda and spin.

      You haven’t thought it through…

    2. @Cathryn Moody I’m sorry… Was that addressed to you? I was speaking to someone else. No one asked you to read a damn thing. Let alone mischaracterize it as ignorantly as you did. You don’t want to read it.. Don’t… nobody invited you to the party in the first place, boo boo kitty. 😘

    1. @Slothy the same joe Biden who passed infrastructure, another thing that the gold plated calf couldn’t do? Even after four years trump couldn’t do infrastructure, Biden in less than a year. And how about trumps health care? Lol. But yeah you just keep shouting lock her up! That’ll help lol

    1. @C. Gibran No the problem with Trump still being a child isn’t the word “strange”.

      It’s the word “spoiled”.

    2. Yep, me too…I asked for an alarm clock for Xmas when I was 10…so I could get up early to read the newspaper…my Pepe made sure I got it. Positive vibes from New Hampshire and remember to be kind to each other and yourself during this pandemic and social crisis

  2. The Orange Tyrant’s people know that his ego requires him to have an audience.
    Through out his entire failed presidency, Comb-over wasn’t concerned about issues that affect Americans.
    He was only worried about crowd sizes, ratings, and his own popularity.
    End result of his failed performance: 600,000+ deaths and counting….

    1. This is a worry amongst many. But with cancer being the no1 killer in America and Biden promising a cure within his tedm in office, its strange how easy it is for Democrat lovers to Sweep this under the carpet. Why are you not pushing the doddery old fart on this failed promise.

  3. “When your train is on the wrong tracks, every station you stop at is the wrong station”. The quote defines DJT life to a “T”. He has literally done nothing right, except to realize that there’s a lot of people who are easily misled by charismatic leaders with an anti-everything rhetoric. What a legacy for the Trump family. He will be a stain on America for eternity.

  4. This was always painfully obvious to me. Just like his speeches with the same people behind him everytime, he is the thing that his supporters claim to be against as he projects all this onto everyone else.

    1. Remember the “Blacks 4 Trump” guy? He always appeared somewhere behind Trump in the camera shots. Has anybody ever identified him and found out who was paying him to be on the Trump Campaign? I’d really like to know the story about that guy.

    1. @JC Demp75 Brilliantly argued.
      Therefore, it would be okay for Republicans to count the votes next time and Democrats prevented from observing.
      Let’s audit all the elections so you can show us how wrong we are.
      That’s okay right? We’re wrong, right?

  5. Sounds like a third world “trick” to “draw” a crowd. There, politicians (their supporters) will arrange to distribute a package of food to random people to attend an event! This is exactly that.

    1. @Apokatastasian ! —– Yeah, it’s such a waste to upgrade our 1960s infrastructure, after all that would benefit the whole country. I know, let’s do another tax cut for already extremely wealthy people and pretend there is no global warming.
      –The Republican Party

    2. It’s not the Feds job to borrow money from the future( and indebt us to interest) to fix things. what benefits one part of “the country” doesnt necesarily benefit others, thats why we have states… better to let the people sort out what needs doing locally based on merit, instead of a batshit incompetant central beaurocracy…

      Higher taxes actually drop revenues because the super wealthy bought everyone and they don’t pay it, cheaper for them to buy dodges and contribute to campaigns(they give more to the left, must be an accident right?) the middle class always pays your stupid taxes, always…

      you can’t solve *Global warming* with local solutions by definition. for example closing cleaner american pipelines in favor of saudi ones and the tankers to bring it here(smart), or selling solar panels to white ladies that make more pollution in china to make, than they save here(never we mind they’re made by fascist owned literal slaves)

      -the centrist people who think, instead of buying what they’re sold to think

    3. Third world countries don’t have money to waste like that. It’s an American thing. The delusion with you Americans is that you continue to believe certain things aren’t really happening in your country and when they do all you do is liken the U.S.A to other countries. Keep fooling yourselves, soon you will be a third first world

    4. @Beau33 —– Actually Beau thanks for the heartfelt warning. Just one problem with your logic, I know the third world really well. I’m a Brazilian. I just happen to pay taxes in the US.

      By the way the US has a reserve currency, it gives them great flexibility in spending. None of the third world countries have that. Now if you could just tell me the date when the US will start sliding into third world status, I can make some money betting against their stock market.

  6. would venture to say that EVERYONE commenting on this post had their “required” shots before starting school and throughout their childhood, whether or not, in their parent’s mind, it was for their child’s health & safety or to continue to suppress or eradicate dangerous contagious diseases. Unfortunately, THIS contagious disease, no matter whether man made or not (so you are refusing to follow guidelines because you believe it’s manmade???) WAS definitely made political from day 1 by being hidden, mocked, falsified and continues to be political under the reasoning of “freedom”. The sadness is that since it IS political, people really aren’t making up their own minds about the disease but rather are making their decisions based on party lines. Personal freedom? Individual choice?

    1. The Book of Truth
      When things were at their very worst:
      2 Suns, Cross in the sky, 2 comets will collide = don`t be afraid – repent, accept Lord`s Hand of Mercy.
      Scientists will say it was a global illusion.
      Beaware – Jesus will never walk in flesh again.
      After WW3 – rise of the “ man of peace“ from the East = Antichrist – the most powerful, popular, charismatic and influential leader of all time. Many miracles will be attributed to him. He will imitate Jesus in every conceivable way.
      Don`t trust „pope“ Francis = the False Prophet
      – will seem to rise from the dead
      – will unite all Christian Churches and all Religions as one.
      One World Religion = the seat of the Antichrist.
      Benedict XVI is the last true pope – will be accused of a crime of which he is totally innocent.

      “The time for the schism in the Church is almost here and you must get prepared now”
      Tuesday, 20 March 2012

    2. Pretty spot on assessment. Only issue I have is saying ppl aren’t making up their own minds but instead making decisions on party lines. I had my reservations about vaccination based on not trusting the govt & my belief they aren’t the most efficient at solutions. I waited to see how it would affect politicians & the 55+ yr old population cuz they run the show. I do believe a majority have made the decision based on party lines though lol

  7. I always thought that his signature political myth was that he was a product of the US dream er like borrowing a million or so from crooked , racist , fascist , Daddy Trump , the estate developer, who paid for dunce Donny’s graduation with a big donation to his Ivy League college !

  8. When evil people politicize a pandemic for their own personal gain, this is what happens. It’s a real head shaker and history will look back on this with total disbelief.

    1. @Lee Holland ing are you a complete idiot. The Supreme Court ruled it can’t be extended but Biden ignored that ruling and extended it, which he doesn’t have the power to do. He’s counting on constitution scholars to hopefully find a loophole. Which part do I need to further explain?

    2. @Lee Holland I’m gonna guess that you spent more than a couple years licking windows on the way to school didn’t you?

    3. @Marco Olmedo The U.S. Constitution states that one of the few responsibilities granted to federal government is to protect our borders and they refuse to do it. They focus most of their efforts on trying to circumvent or override state laws.

  9. The first objective of a con man is to discredit their detractors so when you get warned about the scam you’ll ignore them.

    1. @oltedders using the date of my account as a put down is something a child would do.
      You bet I’m trolling! I’m trolling for idiots and you took the bait and so eagerly too. 🤣🎣

    2. @havocmaster69
      Trump’s 35 year business dealings and political ties to Russia did keep making the news every time something new was uncovered.
      My favorite was his secret meeting in the Oval Office with Sergei Kislyak when Trump shared state secrets with the ambassador. We found out about it taking place when the story appeared in Pravda and on Russian TV. That happened so early on we hardly remember it.

    3. @havocmaster69 Yeah. I wonder how many of our secrets Trump and his kids sold to the Russians. His buddy Putin is KGB and Trump even entertained Russian Operatives in the Oval Office and tried to hide it from the press. It’s always “Russia, Russia, Russia” with the Trumps — especially when they needed big money because respectable banks wouldn’t lend to Trump Org.

  10. The employment of actors was reported years ago by David K Johnston and Matt Taibbi(working independently).

  11. Everything about him is a myth. His height. His weight. His toughness. His business acumen. His charm. His intelligence. His proficiency at golf. And most of all, his 2020 presidential election victory.

  12. “trump’s trail of maga tears”. The wettest and saltiest from the standpoint of tears.
    Magically delicious. 🤣

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