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Team Trump's emphasis on performative politics reaches ridiculous levels
Trump administration officials are less of an executive branch and more of a theater troupe that’s principally concerned with putting on a good show.
https://bsky.app/profile/stevebenen.com/post/3lmxcm3hs4s2o
All things considered, it's best not to think of Trump administration officials as part of an executive branch.
They're more of a theater troupe that’s principally concerned with putting on a good show
They're more of a theater troupe that’s principally concerned with putting on a good show
Link to tweet
https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/team-trumps-emphasis-performative-politics-reaches-ridiculous-levels-rcna201606
About a month into Donald Trump’s second term, the White House used social media to promote a video featuring ICE officials placing immigrants in chains and handcuffs before they board a plane, presumably for deportation. A backlash soon followed, with many observers noting how dehumanizing the display was......
CNN recently reported that elements of the administration’s deportation agenda were designed to be “camera-ready” and featured a “made-for-TV look.” Soon after, Axios published a related report that Team Trump’s immigration crackdown includes an emphasis on “choreography, photo ops, wardrobe changes and tough talk.” A White House official said the focus on “the visuals” was deliberate. The New York Times added that enforcement efforts surrounding the administration’s immigration policies are packaged “like mini reality-TV shows — complete with perp walks and even guest stars.”
The president has apparently noticed — and he seems delighted. In fact, it’s getting increasingly easy to believe that Trump administration officials are less of an executive branch and more of a theater troupe that’s principally concerned with putting on a good show.
And if there’s one official gunning for a starring role in the Republican production, it’s Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The Wall Street Journal reported this week on the South Dakotan’s “made-for-TV style.”
Noem has been so eager to get in front of cameras and microphones that early on in her tenure, she accompanied ICE officials on a predawn raid and tweeted images of her efforts. The Journal added, “The problem: The raid was still ongoing when Noem posted about it, undercutting the element of surprise, according to people familiar with the operation.”.....
But the bottom line remains the same: Americans hoping to see a White House focused more on governing, and less on theatrics and performative politics, are going to have to lower their expectations
CNN recently reported that elements of the administration’s deportation agenda were designed to be “camera-ready” and featured a “made-for-TV look.” Soon after, Axios published a related report that Team Trump’s immigration crackdown includes an emphasis on “choreography, photo ops, wardrobe changes and tough talk.” A White House official said the focus on “the visuals” was deliberate. The New York Times added that enforcement efforts surrounding the administration’s immigration policies are packaged “like mini reality-TV shows — complete with perp walks and even guest stars.”
The president has apparently noticed — and he seems delighted. In fact, it’s getting increasingly easy to believe that Trump administration officials are less of an executive branch and more of a theater troupe that’s principally concerned with putting on a good show.
And if there’s one official gunning for a starring role in the Republican production, it’s Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. The Wall Street Journal reported this week on the South Dakotan’s “made-for-TV style.”
On her first day on the job, Noem held a town-hall meeting to introduce herself to the workforce — and came onstage to the Trace Adkins song “Hot Mama.” She has donned Border Patrol fatigues, toted a gun and posed with airplane controls in the cockpit of a Coast Guard plane. Framed photos of the secretary, including one of her wearing a cowboy hat on horseback with border agents around her and another of her on an ATV, have gone up in different offices around DHS, according to photos seen by The Wall Street Journal.
Noem has been so eager to get in front of cameras and microphones that early on in her tenure, she accompanied ICE officials on a predawn raid and tweeted images of her efforts. The Journal added, “The problem: The raid was still ongoing when Noem posted about it, undercutting the element of surprise, according to people familiar with the operation.”.....
But the bottom line remains the same: Americans hoping to see a White House focused more on governing, and less on theatrics and performative politics, are going to have to lower their expectations
3 replies
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Kristi Noem has no experience or other qualifications for the position of Secretary of Homeland Security. What she has is the type of looks that trump likes and wants to see in ad and cosplay clips on TV. That is why Noem is always doing cosplay stunts like going to the El Salvador prison and holding guns. Trump wants Noem in ads
Link to tweet
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/03/maralago-face-conservative-girl-makeup-brutal-aesthetics-of-maga-trump-gaetz-guilfoyle/
Take Noem. Soon after Trump said that he was considering her to be his running mate, Noem released an infomercial-style social media video debuting dental work. The new smile, one Republican strategist told the New York Times, was “all about her appeal to an audience of one.” Noem never got the VP role, and she was sued for “deceptive advertising practices.” That lawsuit was dismissed, and she denied being compensated for any advertisements. Still, Trump did appoint her to lead the Department of Homeland Security, despite the fact she had neither worked in the department nor had a background in law enforcement.
What Noem did seem to have was the face for the job. “I want you in the ads, and I want your face in the ads,” Noem recently recalled Trump saying, referring to a set of new taxpayer-funded ads celebrating the immigration crackdown. “I want you to thank me. I want you to thank me for closing the border.”
What Noem did seem to have was the face for the job. “I want you in the ads, and I want your face in the ads,” Noem recently recalled Trump saying, referring to a set of new taxpayer-funded ads celebrating the immigration crackdown. “I want you to thank me. I want you to thank me for closing the border.”
I hate the TV ad where Noem thanks trump for making the borders safe. That ad is on just before the weather on the local TV channels and changing channels does not always work to avoid this add. That ad was trump's idea
Link to tweet
It’s very important to the Trump administration that the government spend huge taxpayer dollars on ads that repeatedly thank Donald Trump while warning immigrants to leave or stay out of America. .....
“Thank you, President Donald J. Trump, for securing our border, for deporting criminal illegal immigrants, and for putting America first,” Noem says in the domestic version of the ad. “President Trump has a clear message for those that are in our country illegally, leave now, if you don’t, we will find you and we will deport you.” She adds that “under President Trump, America’s borders are closed to law-breakers.”
The international version of the ad is very similar, and also thanks Trump. In that version, Noem says, “Under President Trump, we are defending American families and restoring their safety,” and adds, “President Trump is making America safe again.”
“Thank you, President Donald J. Trump, for securing our border, for deporting criminal illegal immigrants, and for putting America first,” Noem says in the domestic version of the ad. “President Trump has a clear message for those that are in our country illegally, leave now, if you don’t, we will find you and we will deport you.” She adds that “under President Trump, America’s borders are closed to law-breakers.”
The international version of the ad is very similar, and also thanks Trump. In that version, Noem says, “Under President Trump, we are defending American families and restoring their safety,” and adds, “President Trump is making America safe again.”
Noem is in this ad thanking trump because this is the role that trump cast for her. Kristi Noem perfectly encapsulates the Trump administration-All performative and theatrics, very little substance.
Link to tweet
All of the "photo-ops" with Noem are staged for one reason. She fits the role that trump casted her for and it does not matter is she points a gun at the other people in the photo op
Link to tweet
