News sources report that yesterday our dear leader has decided it may be time to revoke Rosie O'Donnell's citizenship. He posted on Truth Social: “Because of the fact that Rosie O’Donnell is not in the best interests of our Great Country, I am giving serious consideration to taking away her Citizenship,” Trump wrote in a social media post on Saturday. He added that O’Donnell, who moved to Ireland in January, should stay in Ireland “if they want her.” (AP, CNN, Fox News, NY Times)
There are a few possible explanations for what is going on here:
- Argle-bargle: Trump can't possibly believe he or anyone else in the federal government can strip Rosie O'Donnell of her citizenship, which -- according to the XIVth Amendment -- was and is her birthright. Trump's intemperate threats to violate the Constitution come as easily to him as pounding sand and are just about as meaningful. These are the outbursts of a man-child mid-tantrum.
- Media hog: Nobody in public life is quite as good as Trump at capturing and keeping the spotlight on himself. This is how it's done, ladies and gentlemen. For aspiring oligarchs, watch and learn.
- Keep the base riled up: Most voters in this country don't know much about the Privileges and/or Immunities Clauses of Article IV and Amendment XIV of the Constitution or the Naturalization Act of 1906. Wild statements about denaturalizing a person who is a citizen by birth may appeal to some Trump supporters for whom a social media rant is a nearly free piece of red meat.
- He hates her. He really hates her: The President dismisses those who either disagree with him or even accurately report on his mis- and disinformation as suffering from "Trump Derangement Syndrome". After years of picking fights with Rosie O'Donnell, Trump is exhibiting signs of O'Donnell Derangement Syndrome. There seem to be few people who can set Trump off the way Rosie does, and when that happens, the poor fellow can't think straight.
- Remember, Trump is a fan of professional wrestling. The match is scripted in advance, the violence is mostly fake, and the storylines are hatched by executives who are experts at hyping the crowd. The wrestlers know it's fake, and so does the audience, but the wrestlers are making good money and the audience loves the entertainment. It doesn't matter that it's only a show. So are the movies and TV shows, but we still care even if the blood and gore are fake. Give the people bread and circuses is never a bad strategy.
- He believes his own nonsense. It doesn't seem likely, but he may truly believe that the presidency comes with kingly powers and royal prerogatives that are unbounded by statutes and the Constitution. His record since January 20 certainly suggests that "the rule of law" means nothing to him, and neither Congress nor the Supreme Court seem particularly interested in reeling in his autocratic aspirations.
What have I missed? Is it possible that more than one explanation explains Trump's threat? All of the above?
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