Trump's Art of the Blame is Part of His Game

There's one type of political attack that first surfaced during the emergence of Mesopotamia, recognized worldwide as the cradle of civilization, that has been sharpened and honed over the centuries.

It's called the Blame Game.

In the 21st century we're seeing the art of blaming others at its very zenith. Since Trump slithered out of the primordial swamps hiding racists who became his cult and voted for him in surprising numbers in both terms, he's fully defined the GOP's Art of the Blame.

Trump is a master at deflecting personal and political responsibility by shifting blame to political rivals, past administrations, the media, or foreign policy.

It's a tie when it comes to blaming past administrations for anything that goes wrong in the country. Emphasis on anything. President Biden and President Obama have become Trump's favorite people to blame. You'd almost think they were still in office as he blames our sagging economy and his war on Iran on them.

When it comes to Trump's subordinates and staff, he distances himself from unpopular outcomes or decisions by claiming he was blindsided or placing responsibility on appointed officials. 

US Attorney Jeanine Pirro is a good example of how he treats his appointees. Trump is blaming her for telling the truth about the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool damage. It wasn't from civilians ripping up the lining. It was the company Trump hired helmed by one of his Mar-a-Lago billionaire buddies that turned the monument into a filthy bog.

A long time ago Trump learned the benefits of blaming the media from his mentor Roy Cohn. He consistently characterizes critical coverage as unfair or dishonest. When he gets backlash, he blames it on coordinated opposition rather than his policy decisions.

The basic strategy is simple.

Always avoid direct apologies or acknowledgments of error, which Trump perceives as a sign of weakness.

Using message control is another favorite way of playing the Blame Game. He rattles off familiar narratives to quickly pivot away from current controversies and rally core supporters.

Because Trump is shameless and demented, he lies about everything every day. It's a routine that most Americans are sick of as they watch the price of living skyrocket with no end in sight.

As it Stands, we must not lose sight that Trump's defenses against reality motivates his cult, but not the rest of the country. Truth matters.