There was an interesting twist of events this week at the White House, where former President Trump, always the one to appreciate a touch of class and culture, welcomed Andrea Bocelli. One might think he did this just to get away from the political circus and instead enjoy some world-class music. The famed Italian tenor was there to perform for what promises to be an unforgettable holiday party. Of course, Trump’s love for grandiose statements means that only the best-behaved members of his administration might get an invite to the event. It’s worth wondering if half the fun for Trump is watching his cabinet wonder if they’ll make the cut!
Meanwhile, Democrats across the country must have been busy fine-tuning their vocal cords for a different kind of performance. While Trump was getting a dose of refined serenades, Democratic groups were storming the streets, quite literally, with protests aimed directly at his administration. Chicago saw quite the spectacle with protesters taking creativity to new heights by staging a mock crucifixion in front of an I.C.E. facility. It seems like instead of the elegant music of Bocelli, they preferred the jarring sound of screams and chaos.
Amidst all the commotion, it’s particularly amusing to see late-night talk shows jumping fervently on the anti-Trump bandwagon. They appear to have taken on the role of protest promoters as much as they focus on comedy—if you can call it that. It’s as if they’ve forgotten that their main job is to entertain rather than play cheerleader for political demonstrations. ABC and CBS, with a little help from Stephen Colbert, seem determined to rally the troops of disenchanted unicorns and whatever other mythical creatures they can muster.
On a more serious note, the timing of these protests seems just a tad off—perhaps comically so. President Trump’s diplomatic efforts in the Middle East have been making headlines for all the right reasons recently. The purported peace achievements seem to have slipped right under the radar of these exuberant protestors. For folks ranting about tyranny and authoritarian takeovers, they sure enjoy quite the freedom to assemble and express creatively even if it means complaining about absolutely everything.
Finally, the Democratic party must be patting themselves on the back for orchestrating an event that might make the usual chaotic family Thanksgiving dinner look serene in comparison. Yet, driving their narrative with cries of impending doom and Trump’s supposed authoritarian grip feels out of touch, given the rather peaceful and melodic celebrations happening just a few states away. Maybe if they tuned their rhetoric—or better yet, their invitation list just like Trump—they might see a more harmonious outcome for themselves in upcoming elections.
