Guy Ciarrocchi: Trump’s historic victory reveals as much about us as about him
Trump’s victory was historic — meaning it’s important and worth studying. The unfortunate reality is that in today’s America, any Republican win in a swing state or district is actually historic. However, Trump’s victory is in a “super-historic” category.
With all the post-election debate over why he won, too many have failed to take note of how much adversity he had to overcome in order to win — and not the obvious adversity. Perhaps more importantly, his victory says a lot about the mindset of an emerging majority in our nation. What most of us are looking to find, looking to stop, or looking to fix.
The win underscores how academia, the legacy media, social media and Hollywood are, in fact, disconnected from our lives, our reality, and our values.
When we consider what he overcame to win, it says a great deal about the state of the nation.
Let’s put aside the comeback from 2020. Put aside the federal and state indictments. The legal cases brought against his former staff and allies. The attorneys trying to bankrupt him. The endless attempts in the courtroom and the court of public opinion to further destroy his reputation. And let’s even put aside the two assassination attempts — be they rogue actors or part of a conspiracy.
Whether you consider the court cases to be the weaponization of the justice system or legitimate, overcoming them is what makes Trump’s win “super-historic.”
But putting the court cases and the assassination attempts aside, Trump had to overcome a generation or more of factors working against him — and most Republicans. His supporters and his voters had to look past so much propaganda that’s constantly put in front of our eyes and ears that many others just see as “normal life.”
The multiple, deep, omnipresent challenges for Republicans and for conservative ideas are so engrained into our society and culture that many Americans, regardless of party, no longer recognize them as challenges. And for Trump the obstacles were super-sized.
Consider who voters are. Most voters are products of public schools. Recognize that voters under 40 were overwhelmingly taught by teachers whose values or curriculum are the backbone — or at least backdrop — of today’s Democratic Party. From “climate crisis” to “systemic racism.” From viewing the United States as an “oppressor” to men as misogynists — or at least portraying white men as the unfair beneficiaries of a biased culture. From “sex education” to “gender.” From questioning the legitimacy of police officers to questioning the fairness of capitalism. As we learned during the Covid era, public schools have been preaching the harms of American society. Heck, the very textbook teaching American history in almost every school district — Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States —is premised on America being flawed from the start, a force for harm to its citizens and the planet.
Then state universities and especially the Ivy League and other “elite” universities, double down on this. They not only preach those values, they go further. They shield students from conservative thought and thought-leaders, mock or ridicule their ideas and spokespeople — and offer safe-spaces to students when conservatives are on campus (or win an election). Twenty-first century colleges may not produce job-ready graduates — ready to work hard, face adversity and deal with responsibility, but they do produce left-of-center graduates who are told they are duty-bound to advance their view of the world and oppose and shame anyone offering conservative outlooks. Heck, even questioning liberal orthodoxy is taught to be shameful.
Plus, students from Pre-K to college graduation, those same students and their parents and their peers are immersed in a social media world of progressive thoughts, products and advertisements. All too often due to algorithms and “friends,” they either never see or hear conservative thoughts or they see them as something that’s mocked — as representative of the very harm, sins and immorality of Americans and our flawed culture.
The traditional family, respect for the rule of law, civil society, capitalism, and the Constitution are all portrayed as the harmful pillars of a flawed nation. Therefore, they should (must) be pulled apart.
For those going into corporate America, it’s the same, re-enforced by HR departments and corporate culture.
Layer on the near unanimity of the legacy media. Those reading newspapers — online or in paper form — all too often view them as having almost biblical importance. And we know “newspapers” frame what news they choose to cover, their headlines, and the facts chosen to be shared, or skewed.
Now, layer in legacy TV — from the overt propaganda of CBS and MSNBC to the slightly more subtle bias of the other “major networks,” plus, the “comedy” shows that are essentially 30, 60 or 90 minute commercials for Democrats and their policies or attack ads against the GOP or conservative values. And the ads on TV (on your television or computer/laptop/phone) — not the campaign ads, but the ads for beer, clothes, and energy.
Finally, add in the cancel culture and shaming — online, in the work place and even at the bus stop.
For decades, by design or through a series of decisions—or a go-along to get along mindset, American culture from pre-K to college, from Facebook to CBS and from corporate America to Saturday Night Live, there has been an almost factory-like unified focus in mass producing left of center voters: Democrats. And vilifying Republicans, conservative values, or anyone else who questions progressive orthodoxy.
That Trump could overcome all of that — and Kamala’s $1.5 billion actual campaign — and win, carrying every battleground state, speaks to the relentless, tireless, effective efforts of Trump and his party.
But it actually speaks louder to the values, hopes and dreams of a majority of Americans. Despite being programmed to distrust and reject all Republicans and their values, they voted against the machine.
That they saw through all of that to vote for Trump is historic.
The next few years will tell us if this was a blip in history’s timeline, or, a deeper counter-cultural revolution. Did voters not just switch parties, but also send a deeper message to the programmers?
Guy Ciarrocchi is a Senior Fellow at the Commonwealth Foundation. He writes for Broad + Liberty and RealClear Pennsylvania. Follow Guy at @PaSuburbsGuy.
Guy Ciarrocchi’s article was a very clear summation of our present reality and how we got here. How about a follow up revealing how these vast networks were crafted and put into place and by who? Thanks for your excellent work.
Frederick J Weiss,
A precise answer to your question is carefully detailed over 2 hrs and 43 mins in episode “#2237, Mike Benz”
A very insightful article. I became eligible to vote in 1971 and like many young Black Americans of my generation in joined the Democratic Party and always voted straight Democratic until the 1990’s. That’s when I began thinking that maybe the Democrats aren’t doing a whole lot for my people. The more I thought about that and the more I read, I realized my values had shifted to a very conservative state of mind. I began voting for the candidate, whether Democrat or Republican, or even Libertarian. Anyway, the deciding factor was the election of Barack Obama. Finally, America is going to have its first Black president. I felt so proud. two terms in office really changed my mind and he was the very last time that race (or gender) was a factor in who I voted for. I think the shift Ciarrocchi was writing about is reflective of my generation but also younger voters. Many of us have decided to become free thinkers. To decide for ourselves about what is going on in our nation, and for my people especially, to understand that the Democrats count on the race card and definitely take our votes for granted. Americans are deciding and doing their own homework about political and social issues and deciding that many of aspects of the agenda that the liberals/progressives (is there a difference?) are shoving at us is, to say it nicely: poop. We’re saying No More. That’s how Donald Trump won this historic victory and 21% of Black men cast ballots for him. We want to put Americans first and Kamala Harris wasn’t going to do that. The decisive aspect about what she represents were her own words. On The View (the pinnacle of far-left propaganda) Sunny Hostin asked her twice what things that the Biden Administration would you change? Harris’ response was a slightly vacuous expression for a second and then she replied, “Nothing really comes to mind.”
Firstly, it’s hilarious that all of a sudden Banana Republicans trust election results now that they’ve won one. Not sure anyone is falling for it but ok, the schtick is entertaining at least. Honestly can’t wait to see what Banana Republicans do now that they have congress and potus and scotus. Are they still going to try blaming their problems on the “woke mob” or “deep state” or whatever even though they have total control of the federal government? Are they still going to play the victim card and pretend they’re some sort of oppressed political minority? Will they all of a sudden change their tune on letting unelected, ruling class corporate tech elites and globalists run our country now that they have Musk? (Spoiler alert: they already have). Will they keep blaming hurricanes on “them” magically controlling weather or blame wildfires on “space lasers” even though military leadership will be replaced with loyalists (like in any good banana republic)? It’s an exciting time to be alive!
Cicero:
In Rome, Cicero spoke with great flair,
But the CIA’s tactics? Quite rare!
With Machiavelli in mind,
They’re amoral, unkind,
In shadows, they plot without care.
Cicero prattled with pride,
While the CIA’s schemes often hide.
With Machiavelli’s grin,
They’ll twist truth into sin,
In the dark, where their morals subside.
Mr. Ciarrocchi is a lawyer and graduated from Villanova Law school, I would have thought he would rely on facts and evidence, not lies and innuendo. Clearly his faculty advisor was Rudy Guliiani. Perhaps if he had attended an elite law school he would have learned the difference, instead pretending to be the victim.
“And let’s even put aside the two assassination attempts — be they rogue actors or part of a conspiracy.” – Let’s not put this aside. Do you have any proof that this was part of a conspiracy and if you do, why haven’t you alerted law enforcement to prevent this from happening again?
“Let’s put aside the comeback from 2020. Put aside the federal and state indictments. The legal cases brought against his former staff and allies.” – Again let’s not put this aside. This is what happens when you break the law and can’t hide behind civil suits and stall tactics. The only person damaging Trump’s reputation is Trump and the people around him. Including three cabinet nominees who have committed sexual assault and trafficing.
“Most voters are products of public schools. Recognize that voters under 40 were overwhelmingly taught by teachers whose values or curriculum are the backbone — or at least backdrop — of today’s Democratic Party……From viewing the United States as an “oppressor” to men as misogynists — or at least portraying white men as the unfair beneficiaries of a biased culture. From “sex education” to “gender.” – Your right, how dare the public schools teach that people who are not white or Chrisitan be treated as equals, including legally. Or that America is flawed, which we are. What makes America great is that we recognize and teach these flaws so they will not happen again, including;
Slavery & The Dred Scott ruling
The mistreatment and attempt to exterminate Native Americans
The Chinese Exclusion Act
The internment of Japanese Americans during WWII, 60% of whom were American citizens, even though they posed no threat.
Anti-immigration policies that prevented European Jews from fleeing Europe before, during, and after WWII.
The vilification of immigrants and refugees from Ireland, Italy, and most recently Hatians living in Michigan who have committed the crimes they have been accused of.
“And vilifying Republicans, conservative values, or anyone else who questions progressive orthodoxy.” No one is vilifying Conservatives, you are being vilified for forcing your beliefs on us by changing laws that were supposed to protect everyone. And by the way “Progressive Orthodoxy” is an oxymoron.
“All too often due to algorithms and “friends,” they either never see or hear conservative thoughts” – We do see them, but thanks to critical thinking we know enough to confirm what we are being told.
“The next few years will tell us if this was a blip in history’s timeline, or, a deeper counter-cultural revolution. Did voters not just switch parties, but also send a deeper message to the programmers?” Yes they have switched programmers to Project 2025. Who will turn America into a Christian Sharia nation with a cult of personality like North Korea.
Judah: Your comments are proof that Trump Derangement Syndrome is a very real thing.
Your comment — casually dismissive and fully unoriginal — is proof that the inverse of ““All too often due to algorithms and “friends,” they either never see or hear conservative thoughts”” is even more true.
There is an ideologically conservative echo chamber, full of its own shorthand slams at the “other,” that is far more regimented and unyielding than what they imagine the “progressive” side to be.
It isn’t even likely that all its participants even know what the terms they so liberally toss about really mean.
The most damaging of these shorthand misunderstandings is that they have demonized about half of their fellow Americans — the Demonrats? — based on the alleged thoughts and motivations of the most extreme fringe. This may have worked this time, but the real lesson may well be that there is a lot more purple than red or blue. Doubling down on the worst of the redness may be the true derangement.
The other way to read “Trump Derangement Syndrome” is that people with religious fervor level of faith in an uneducated conman who doesn’t have enough sense to blend his stage make-up and attracts helpers who are, this month, salivating at how much destruction they can unleash are deranged.
History will surely tell as may the 2026 mid-term elections. Pendulums pulled too far tend to swing — a lesson for all.
Excellent comments by Guy.
In addition to weathering the slings and arrows from all the above, Trump was still standing tall, resolute and competitive after he had everything legal, illegal, unconstitutional, seditionest, false dossiers, false Russian hoaxes, The Mueller Report, opportunist DAs and AGs, every main media newspaper and network, all their sophomoric and delusional editors, the nasty fingers of Pelosi with her two unconstitutional impeachments she initiated based entirely on her personal hatred of Trump, and then her unAmerican third world J6 Committee, two assassination attempts, several attempts to bankrupt him by the DOJ, DNC and Biden’s exceedingly corrupt “lawfare”…and Trump is still standing tall and ready to compete on the battlefield.
No one in our political life has ever been so persecuted and prosecuted continuously, viciously with hate, lies, smears and loathing with such venom from DC, DNC and opposing party’s culture for at least eight years. That competitive resilience, backbone, strength and willingness to continue deserves some sort of respect, especially in our nation which respects such competitive determination in every sports team, too.
My vote was for a Commander in Chief for our country, not for a wishy washy, incoherent, babbling and clueless candidate whose only two credentials to lead the USA in this present tumultuous world, were her gender and interesting parents.