It’s hard to define or measure the exact extent to which President Trump shook up the Washington establishment with his victory in 2016.
The New York Times ran a headline after his defeat of Hillary Clinton that read, “Donald Trump Is Elected President in Stunning Repudiation of the Establishment.”
“The triumph for Mr. Trump … was a powerful rejection of the establishment forces that had assembled against him,” the Times wrote, “from the world of business to government, and the consensus they had forged on everything from trade to immigration.”
What were those establishment forces? How about 28 years of America being run by either a Bush, a Clinton, or an Obama in the White House.
That was a very powerful chain to break, but Trump, ever the outsider, did just that. And if you think they’re not happy about it, we’ve got a bridge to sell you in Brooklyn.
They were all the establishment …
Former President George H.W. Bush labeled Trump a “blowhard” and admitted he cast a vote in the election for Hillary. His son, President George W. Bush, said he and wife, Laura Bush, didn’t vote for either candidate. Neither man endorsed the current President, despite sharing some obvious values, platforms, and a common fundamental difference with Hillary.
As for the Clintons, the former First Lady’s establishment credentials were many, helping bring about her negative approval rating from Americans. Her husband, William Jefferson Clinton, has been a frequent critic of Trump, questioning his “authenticity.” Both derided him as racist and misogynist.
Then there are the Obamas, who somehow managed to escape scrutiny by their predecessor throughout Barack’s entire tenure as President, a courtesy not afforded to Trump.
Obama actually at one point compared the President to Hitler during an economic speech.
.@BarackObama didn’t mince words in Chicago last night during @EconClubChi speech, via @GregHinz pic.twitter.com/C8wuBzz1dY
— Kristen Schorsch (@kschorsch) December 6, 2017
“We have to tend to this garden of democracy or else things could fall apart quickly,” Obama explained in addressing what an apathetic voter base might lead to.
“That’s what happened in Germany in the 1930s which,” Obama continued, “despite the democracy of the Weimar Republic and centuries of high-level cultural and scientific achievements, Adolph Hitler rose to dominate.”
Each member of the Clinton/Bush/Obama family has had heavy criticism for Trump, but have tempered their negative comments toward each other.
What does that say to you? It says Trump is alone fighting against a well-established establishment team.
