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When Reality reaches the White House

America has finally voted a Reality TV star as its next President.

In November 1980 Americans voted a former actor as its 40th President of the United States after Ronald Reagan campaigned to “Make America Great Again.”

36 years later it has voted a former Reality TV star as its 45th President in Donald J. Trump, on the same Republican platform.

The former boss from The Apprentice yesterday defeated Hillary Clinton in a shock result, to claim the Presidency.

In the US, where being on Television is the closest thing they have to Royalty, Trump’s management style was very familiar to viewers and voters across the country. Trump’s “You’re Fired” catchphrase was heard for 14 seasons on the NBC show, until both parted ways earlier this year. He has since been replaced by former Californian Governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Trump’s win is presumably good news for Alec Baldwin, whose impressions on Saturday Night Live have entertained everybody but the man himself. Baldwin had also backed Clinton.

Meanwhile there have been a number of celebrities who vowed to quit the US if Trump won: Barbra Streisand, Bryan Cranston, Neve Campbell, Chloe Sevigny, Lena Dunham, Cher, Steven King.

It also remains to be seen how a Trump Presidency will impact Hollywood. After Bill Clinton became President, Hollywood churned out movies with the role depicted as an action hero: Air Force One, Independence Day and object of desire in The American President -plots that could never have been contemplated with his predecessors.

The upcoming season of Homeland is based around the Inauguration of the President, which takes place on January 20. The series is due in the US on January 15. But they appear to have backed the wrong horse with Elizabeth Marvel playing Elizabeth Keane, a junior senator from New York, who becomes elected as the President.

Perhaps they should have looked to The Simpsons, who predicted a Trump presidency 16 years ago in ‘Bart to the Future.’

At least Angela Bishop can go back to John Oliver and tackle him on his claims that a Trump presidency wouldn’t happen. “Give us a chance, have some faith Angela,” he had insisted.

Warning: language

7 Responses

  1. Ronald Reagans “Let’s make America great again” slogan certainly didn’t relate to AIDS victims. His inaction and mishandling of the AIDS crisis during his Presidency was deplorable, he simply did not care at all, and consequently, treatment for thousands of victims was delayed. I wouldn’t expect Trump to have any more compassion than Reagan did.

    1. Ronnie had the highest approval rating when he left office….an all time great who should not be judged on his handling of an std affecting a small number of folk at that time..he did make America great again after the debacles of the 60s and 70s. Lets hope Trump can do something useful….

  2. Yeah Ronald Reagan, despite a few funny moments was by far the greatest post WWII U S President. America prevailed. Then along came the Bushes and the Clintons and the downward spiral began…

  3. (In November 1980 Americans voted a former actor as its 40th President of the United States after Ronald Reagan campaigned to “Make America Great Again.”)
    Well, if Regan couldn’t manage it, what makes Donald think he can.

    1. Reagan implemented sweeping new political and economic initiatives. His supply-side economic policies, dubbed “Reaganomics”, advocated tax rate reduction to spur economic growth, control of the money supply to curb inflation, economic deregulation, and reduction in government spending. Over his two terms, his economic policies saw a reduction of inflation from 12.5% to 4.4%, and an average annual growth of real GDP of 3.4%. During his re-election bid Reagan campaigned that it was “Morning in America”, winning a landslide in 1984 with the largest electoral college victory in history. Foreign affairs dominated his second term, including ending of the Cold War.

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