If President Trump wants to win over undecided or reluctant voters this cycle, he’ll have to adjust the 2020 tune he’s already playing. During his massive campaign kickoff rally in Orlando on Tuesday, his focus was decidedly stale. With mentions of his former opponent, Hillary Clinton, but barely any talk of the Democratic hopefuls (other than “Sleepy Joe”) vying for his job, the president appears to be looking back instead of ahead.
There is no doubt that Trump’s brand of braggadocio was wildly popular during the last presidential campaign cycle. His inexhaustible personality and biting rhetoric spoke to voters in Middle America who either felt forgotten or targeted by left-leaning elites. Those who loved his individual style then do so now, too. But since defeating Hillary Clinton in November 2016, the president has stood on his own, free from comparisons to peers actively seeking the presidency who say they would make better choices if they were to lead the nation. Now, with almost two-dozen challengers across the aisle, the atmosphere has changed.
The recent Fox News poll showing Trump trailing behind five Democratic candidates, including Kamala Harris and Pete Buttigieg, should serve as an early wake-up call to the Trump campaign. The president may go about as though the 2016 campaign never ended, but the country is ready for the next chapter. Whether that step is another four years of the incumbent or not remains to be seen.
Either way, there needs to be something that sets this round apart from the last. Even the 2020 slogan of “Keep America Great” is too similar to the previous and wildly successful one from 2016. Not only that, those three words suggest that it only took about three years to make America great again in the first place. That’s quite the claim for any incumbent no matter their party or background. Impossible, too.
Firstly, the president should address his tendency to insult. I understand this request is akin to asking for a miracle, but this would do wonders to soothe the fears of the reluctant voters who will hold their nose while supporting him and undecideds who are entirely repulsed by this regular behavior he exhibits. It really is as simple as remaining fierce but doing so without ridiculing someone’s intelligence, appearance, and the like. Even for those who won’t vote for him, a return to civility from the man who represents our country on a national and international level would be a welcome change. Such a move would gain bipartisan praise.
Secondly, Trump should stop calling the media “the enemy of the American people.” This looks especially questionable when in the same time frame the president does something like praises Kim Jong Un’s “beautiful letter.” The American media is biased, dishonest, and actively works to undermine those whose ideologies don’t align with the ones held by the journalistic cabal. They know this. We know this. However, it is utterly disgraceful to label the media as the nation’s enemy when the real threats to our freedom and way of life exist in regimes found in Iran, North Korea, etc. Scoring points may feel great when the commander-in-chief opens his mouth, but it is unbecoming of any president.
Finally, the campaign (president and staff) must address the issues facing our nation with more honesty. The economy is doing well, but that’s not entirely Trump’s doing. He can also partly thank his predecessor for a portion of that. Once and for all, he and his team should be clear about the damage that tariffs actually do to businesses and the economy at large. While there has been much talk about the immigration situation, little has been accomplished. Where is the wall? How are we addressing the crisis of illegality and humanity at the border? In many areas, we still have a mess on our hands.
In the last few years, there have been some positive strides, but America is not transformed into a country that has moved beyond its recent past. In fact, I’d say we as a nation have grown more divided than ever before. We still wallow in much of the same mire.
“Keep America Great” is a feel-good catchphrase meant to prove that Trump’s presidency has brought about nothing but rousing success. Reality tells a different story. If unsure voters see the same Trump on the campaign trail, they have a right to be concerned. If Trump and his team desire to see comfortable margins between themselves and their adversaries into early 2020 and beyond, they should rework what they have and focus on delivering a very honest, measured, and specific message.
We’ve already been through 2016. It’s time for the new and improved.
Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner’s Beltway Confidential blog and a columnist at Arc Digital.
