American media hasn’t learned anything from 2016 election

By Rodney Martin

Well, first of all, I believe that Donald Trump made those comments in jest, just like his comments about leaving the country if he loses were made in jest, and it's very interesting how these comments have played out in the American media.

It's almost as if the American media did not learn anything from 2016. There's a wide divide between what the media says and does and reports and what takes place on social media in terms of conversations versus what is actually the pulse of the American populace. And that is why there was a tremendous shock when Hillary Clinton lost the election.

But with regard to President Trump saying he's going to fire a governor DeSantis, clearly the US president has no authority to remove a sitting governor. But, and this is the big, big dynamic within the Republican Party, one can argue that President Trump has de facto fired Republican elected officials and I'll give a few examples.

Former Senator Jeff Flake had to withdraw from his primary because Donald Trump was berating him within the Republican base within senator Flake's own primary and had endorsed senator Flakes, primary opponent.

There is a whole number of now-former Republican Congress members Justin Amash, Charlie Dent who either left Congress, changed parties to independent and then lost in subsequent elections; all because they locked horns at Donald Trump.

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So when Donald Trump says he's gonna fire somebody it does sound absurd on the surface and on the face of it because he can't necessarily fire them from their current positions, but he certainly wields enormous power and pressure within the Republican electorate at a 90 to 95% positive rating to where he could make sure that they do get "fired" when they run for reelection. He could support a primary challenge to them. He can just withhold support, he can just tweet horrible things about them as he is noted for doing.

So while it is laughable from a logical point of view, for Trump to make those comments, in reality, the fact is he actually has done that, and that is why so many Republican officials are very leery of crossing him and speaking out against him because they know sooner or later they will have to face their voters, Republican voters, and they do not want to have to face Donald Trump fanning the flames of opposition against them.

 So, I believe that Trump's comment was made in jest, but at the same time Governor DeSantis is probably thinking, wow, if I don't double up and help Trump win Florida he's going to take it out on me in a primary battle. And there will be a residual effect. The Trump effect on the Republican Party is not necessarily going to go away if Donald Trump loses this election Donald Trump has realigned and transformed the Republican Party.

So, that is going to be an interesting dynamic as well, just how much the Trump effect remains within the party and for how long. It remains, it's doubtful that the party will go back to a George W. Bush type of party. It'll have to be somewhere in between.

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Rodney Martin is a former US congressional staffer who is based in Arizona. He recorded this article for Press TV.

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