Donald Trump won in November with a project constructed on “goon” posturing. In spite of his failure to stroll more than a couple of lawns without requiring a golf cart, Trump advocates and his billionaire benefactors enjoy to crow about how their leader is an icon of potency. The masculinity braggadocio of the previous year has actually been unavoidable, from Trump's tiresome “battle battle battle” motto to Trump-loving Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg crowing that he desires more “manly energy” at his business, where over 60% of workers are guys.
And yet, at Trump's allegedly victorious minute of being sworn into his 2nd term Monday, he and his billionaire brother team of Zuckerberg, Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos exposed themselves to be rather soft. Safeguarding fragile skin and fancy makeup took precedence over the enduring custom of holding the inauguration exterior. Rather, the soft-handed MAGA guys of Silicon Valley adhered to the heat of the Capitol Rotunda.
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— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff. bsky.social) January 20, 2025 at 12:47 PM
The setting was proper. It's where dead stars– most just recently previous President Jimmy Carter– lay in state. In spite of all the forced smiles and cheers, the inauguration had strong funeral energy, right to Melania Trump dressing like the widowed prize spouse she no doubt believed she ‘d currently be by now. Trump was caked in “open coffin” levels of makeup, and while alive, brought drowsy energy that just contributed to the funereal tone.
Trump and Melania share a … kiss?
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— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar. com) January 20, 2025 at 11:46 AM
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Musk could not even make it through the speech without a cringeworthy thumbs-up.
Trump: “We will pursue our manifest fate into the stars, releasing American astronauts to plant the stars and stripes on earth Mars.” (Get a load of Elon's response)
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— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar. com) January 20, 2025 at 12:38 PM
As Rebecca Shaw of the Guardian composed recently, “I did not prepare for that individuals in power would likewise be such substantial losers.” Economic expert Paul Krugman concurred, keeping in mind that lots of “abundant guys are extremely insecure,” and bitter upon learning there are things “cash can't purchase, like universal adoration.” In the New York Times, Jamelle Bouie observed, “We have an inner circle of effective middle-aged guys who desire absolutely nothing more than to be kids,” following “a self-centered, petulant and conceited man-child” of a president. Even throughout his speech, Trump could not summon the energy of a winner. He read his speech in the worn out, bored voice of a junior high kid reciting a book report crossed out Cliff Notes.
The farcical nature of the inauguration was a fitting suggestion that whatever about the MAGA motion is a rip-off.
“We will move with function and speed to restore hope,
