Staff Reports
As President Trump shares his Halloween greetings with the American people, he also provides a snapshot of what’s been happening abroad during his travels. Having rubbed shoulders with global powerhouses like the President of China, Japan’s new Prime Minister, and South Korea’s President, Trump is bringing back, as he puts it, “many trillions of dollars.” Sure, that sounds like your typical “bring home the bacon” line, but what stands out is how he manages to combine Halloween tidings with political musings in a way only he can. Who knew diplomacy could sound so fabulously lucrative?
In addition to his travel summary, the President shifts his focus onto a domestic issue of hot contention — the government shutdown. Trump pegs this exasperating halt in federal activity squarely on the Democrats. According to him, their antics resemble those of “crazed lunatics,” clearly lost in a fright night that never ends. Wouldn’t it be marvelous if someone could just throw a switch, open the country back up, and join in a dandy bipartisan meeting? After all, Trump’s made it clear he’s ready to talk, provided they get their act together.
The question of whether he’d meet with the opposing party once the country’s back in business stirs a mighty rhetoric. Trump’s response is a mix of inevitability and frustration — he’s always ready to meet, but the Democrats need to unfurl the flag of opportunity by reopening the country. Isn’t it funny how the simplicity of it all gets lost in translation? It’s almost like when you tell your buddy to open the jack-o-lantern-sized jar of candy, and he’s just sitting there fumbling with the lid.
On a related note, the discussion veers into immigration and that thorny old issue, Obamacare. Imagine billions of dollars set to be blown on illegal immigrants, some of whom, the President suggests ominously, hail from less-than-desirable backgrounds. Meanwhile, Obamacare seems to be the trick-or-treat bag that never offers up anything sweet. It’s an expensive mess in need of fixing or redoing, and Trump’s been telling us that for years — premiums inch higher year after year, but the service stays frighteningly subpar.
In the grand scheme, President Trump’s latest commentary blends the fantastical, the foreign, and the downright frustrating into a brew worthy of any Halloween tale. His return from his international escapades is marked with promises of wealth for Americans, while domestically, the ball is firmly in the Democrats’ court. To any observer, it’s a heady mixture of anticipation and exasperation. Whether the country moves forward or gets stuck in a continuous loop of haunted shutdowns remains to be seen. However, one thing’s for sure — the President seems to think a bit of common sense would fix it all in a jiff. Isn’t that always the way in politics?
