In the ever-entertaining world of political theater, there emerges yet another episode that strangely had people believing former President Donald Trump had kicked the bucket. Now, one might think with today’s technology, a rumor of such magnitude wouldn’t spread like wildfire, but it sure did. As it turns out, a slew of social media users got themselves tangled in a whirlwind of fantasy, convincing themselves that Trump was no longer with us. Meanwhile, the man himself was enjoying his usual rounds of golf, probably more amused by the antics than concerned.
It’s a peculiar thing when you consider that while Trump was swatting golf balls, there were some who hadn’t seen a peep from President Joe Biden for days and never questioned his vitality. When Trump is off the radar for a mere weekend, it’s a conspiracy. When Biden goes AWOL, we don’t assume he’s six feet under, we assume he’s organizing his jelly beans. This stark contrast in treatment does raise eyebrows, doesn’t it?
Apparently, the whole commotion didn’t even warrant Trump’s attention until a reporter had to shove a smartphone in his face, showing him a video clip that fueled this latest frenzy. Not to be bested by a mere hoax, Trump reportedly laughed it off, called it a masterful work of artificial intelligence, and turned his attention back to matters at hand, like, perhaps wondering when contractors would finally stop damaging the delicate White House stonework.
All the while, there’s an amusing observation to be made. Trump’s hiatus gave people enough time to wonder about his existence, yet during Biden’s unaccounted sabbaticals, there wasn’t the same level of speculation. It’s nearly comical how those championing transparency and oversight would prefer some juicy fiction over straight-up facts. With Biden supposedly commandeered from reporters by his dedicated aides, perhaps they should’ve taken notes from Team Trump on how to handle rumors with flair.
In this twisted plot of hopeful silence on Trump’s part, there’s an element of absurdity that can’t be ignored. Democrats, eager to paint Trump as a relic of a bygone era, allegedly leap at the chance to spread whispers of his demise. They’re itching for a “progressive Trump” of their own, someone who commands with an executive pen rather than ponderous speeches. Yet here they are, battling with phantoms of wishful death rather than realizing that their opponent is very much alive, both figuratively and literally. And as Trump stirs up new projects and ideas, there’s a lesson in that—a lesson waiting for those busy writing premature epilogues. Don’t count out the story until it’s finished, and with Trump, the next chapter is always unpredictable and definitely not ghostwritten.
