I like a good troll as much as the next guy.
Nah, that’s not true. I am probably below average on the troll-loving scale, but I can appreciate a good troll every once in a while.
But, even though I appreciate many of President Trump’s verbal trolls, or at least just roll my eyes and move on with my life, he’s packing them in too fast and actually hurting his ability to be taken seriously by people who aren’t MAGA, but want him to succeed nonetheless.
You know, the voters who decide elections.
The Gulf of America troll was an example of a dig at liberals that mildly annoyed me, but it didn’t matter much one way or the other. It drove the libs crazy, ginned up his base, and did no damage beyond that. The Trump 2028 hats were in the same category, although it gets tiresome trying to explain to my liberal friends that this is a joke.
But Trump should spend less of his energy trolling and more on addressing the issues that Americans care about. It’s not that he isn’t doing the latter, but his stunts distract from the message that he is laser-focused on…making America great again.
I have just been informed that the highly respected Board of the Kennedy Center, some of the most successful people from all parts of the world, have just voted unanimously to rename the Kennedy Center to the Trump-Kennedy Center, because of the unbelievable work President Trump…
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) December 18, 2025
I have just been informed that the highly respected Board of the Kennedy Center, some of the most successful people from all parts of the world, have just voted unanimously to rename the Kennedy Center to the Trump-Kennedy Center, because of the unbelievable work President Trump has done over the last year in saving the building. Not only from the standpoint of its reconstruction, but also financially, and its reputation. Congratulations to President Donald J. Trump, and likewise, congratulations to President Kennedy, because this will be a truly great team long into the future! The building will no doubt attain new levels of success and grandeur.
I am not a fan of JFK and could be counted among his more prominent detractors, both as a person and as a president. I wrote a piece back in 2023 arguing that the world would have been infinitely better served by a Nixon victory in 1960. And that is just on the public policy side. Kennedy, as a human being, was scum, pimping out his interns to his advisors in addition to pleasing himself with them.
But renaming the Kennedy Center? First, it isn’t going to happen. Second, it plays into the accusation that he is a narcissist. And third, it’s ridiculous. And don’t give me any guff about this being an independent decision by the board. Please.
The White House has installed descriptive plaques under the gold-framed portraits of every President featured on the “Presidential Walk of Fame” just outside the Oval Office, with every plaque, of course, in someway having to mention President Trump. pic.twitter.com/B80nFuVRke
— OSINT report🚨 (@Tourosenta14746) December 17, 2025
This Kennedy Center move takes place one day after plaques were unveiled in the White House with very Trumpian descriptions of his predecessors, including odd grammar and insults. Normally, I avoid the “beneath the office” whining because it is so useless, and often based on ignoring the fact that many presidents are less “presidential” than we would hope, but this move was BS.
It’s one thing for a president to spout off. It’s another for the POTUS to escort world leaders past portraits and plaques insulting prior presidents. It really does take away from the necessary majesty that state visits require.
When Trump makes mean comments about political opponents, I think, “That’s Trump, get over it.” But when plaques go up at the White House like this, it becomes an official statement that really does degrade what should be majestic. The first is done as a human being; the second as the Head of State. There is a difference. It’s why kings and popes usually choose regal names other than their own to use in an official capacity.
No doubt many of you will tell me to shut up and get in line, but I dissent on this. I am not rejecting Trump’s agenda because I disapprove of something Trump does. I am pointing out that not every passing impulse should be expressed publicly.
Trump gains nothing by doing these stupid things and pays a price with people who wince when he does them. Why does he do things that require his supporters to defend him for no gain? It makes life harder for everyone, and all that is achieved is a chuckle. It’s not like those plaques are permanent, but you can bet that Trump will get a plaque under his photograph when a Democrat becomes president.
Trump is frenetic, and often that is good. It is his superpower at times. But it can be his greatest weakness.
