OPINION:
Polls have shown political watchers of both main parties’ persuasion — Democrat and Republican — would rather President Donald Trump pipe down a bit on the Twitter posts, and take a more nuanced, traditional approach to getting his message to the people.
But on taking complicated issues and making them understandable to the layperson, nobody beats a Trump on Twitter.
Look at what he’s making clear on trade, for example.
“The United States will not allow other countries to impose massive Tariffs and Trade Barriers on its farmers, workers and companies,” he tweeted just recently. “While sending their product into our country tax free. We have put up with Trade Abuse for many decades — and that is long enough.”
And this, another tweeted message: “Just left the @G7 Summit in beautiful Canada. Great meetings and relationships with the six Country Leaders especially since they know I cannot allow them to apply large Tariffs and strong barriers to …”
It was followed by this: “U.S.A. Trade. They fully understand where I am coming from. After many decades, fair and reciprocal Trade will happen!”
And another, just a few hours ago: “Fair Trade is now to be called Fool Trade if it is not Reciprocal. According to a Canada release, they make almost 100 Billion Dollars in Trade with U.S. (guess they were bragging and got caught!). Minimum is 17B. Tax Dairy from us at 270%. Then Justin [Trudeau] acts hurt when called out!”
And yet one more, a real cut-to-the-chaser of a message: “Why should I, as President of the United States, allow countries to continue to make Massive Trade Surpluses, as they have for decades, while our Farmers, Workers & Taxpayers have such a big and unfair price to pay? Not fair to the PEOPLE of America! $800 Billion Trade Deficit …”
The left, the anti-Trumpers, the elitists in both parties squirm and wince whenever they see Trump take to Twitter in what they call a tirade.
But here’s the thing: If a politician’s life blood is his ability to shape and sell a message to the public — which in turn breeds popularity, which in turn breeds votes — then nobody cuts through the clutter of a complicated politicized message like trade than Donald Trump on Twitter.
Economists, scholars and know-it-all types in government and media may wring their hands and accuse this president of a failing to understand the complicated — of a lack of proper education and training and political savvy and I.Q. to weave through the intricacies of complex matters like trade (the left did the same toward Ronald Reagan, by the way).
But Trump’s just talking to the regular people and telling what his goal is.
And once again — the goal resonates. Once again, it’s all about Making America Great Again. The policy discussion might change, but the theme remains the same.
And that’s a message that fits nicely within the confines of a short Twitter post. Truly, it takes a smart person to take a hard-to-understand issue and make it resonate to a layperson of average intellect — to summarize in just a short powerful soundbite both problem and solution. On that, on Twitter, Trump does the job well.
• Cheryl Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com or on Twitter, @ckchumley.
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