I’m not a fan of silence. For that reason, when it gets too quiet, I seek entertainment, often supplied by the explosion of content coming from the United States. Four or five years ago, I’d be looking for entertainment from Hollywood. Ever since then, Washington DC has proven to be a worthy competitor for my attention.
On 6th January, as I turned on the TV looking for something to watch, I hit the jackpot. The Capitol of the United States was being invaded by so-called protestors (a mob of Trump supporters) who were trying to overturn their idol’s defeat in the 2020 election. The plot of the scene seemed unrealistic. If this had happened anywhere else in the world, these are the exact same people who would call it “an undemocratic disgrace”.
Donald Trump, president of the United States of America and avid entertainer, was acting like this wasn’t the culmination of his efforts to cultivate a loyal fan base that would do anything for him. Nevertheless, we flash forward to his second impeachment. Trump is the first president in history to be impeached for a second time, charged by the House of Representatives for “incitement to insurrection”. The plot thickens as some Republicans decided to jump out of the sinking ship, voting for his impeachment as well. The former Apprentice host was reportedly playing with the idea of running for office again in the future, which this impeachment could potentially prevent.
Now, it’s up to the Senate to decide whether Trump is impeached or not. Even the Senate’s top republican, Mitch McConnell, a character no one expected a development from, builds suspense for the next episode. Although he wasn’t on board with the trial, especially its timing, he supposedly has not yet decided on how he will vote.
Trump was then banned from Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and many other social networks. There are different perspectives around this ban, given that although it prevents the spreading of incitement to violence and hatred, it approaches the line of censorship. However, let’s not forget that Big Tech constantly monetizes hatred and will continue to do so, with or without Trump. They’re like the annoying character that is constantly changing sides.
Given the breach of security and the constant threats as Biden’s inauguration approaches, security in the US Capitol has increased drastically. The Capitol building is now hosting a sleepover for the members of the US National Guard, which is strange considering that it’s rare for them to serve in an armed capacity in Washington DC.
Meanwhile, a spin-off is in the works. Apparently, the Trump family is thinking of turning into a political dynasty, with Ivanka Trump dreaming of a place as the governor of Florida or even a Florida Senate seat in 2022. Trump’s son, Don Jr, is also said to be planning to run for office in 2024 in case his father is unable to do so.
The second season will star Joe Biden as the lead. Fans expect it to be quite boring, and they simply can’t wait.
Hopefully, we’ll watch more Hollywood movies in the future. We need some fiction to offset all this reality.
References:
Financial Times:
- https://www.ft.com/content/fc81c3df-f6c0-47c2-8efc-5a14d511f7e7
- https://www.ft.com/content/9a37c259-f7c8-4cca-9a00-83e7e5b9287d
- https://www.ft.com/content/eb6e209a-d0f3-4b76-9d88-70bd92dc4976
- https://www.ft.com/content/68abcad5-485f-489b-a9ee-851ad787958b
BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-55624630
CNN: https://edition.cnn.com/2021/01/09/politics/donald-trump-dangerous-capitol-riot/index.html
Images: Getty Images
