Donald Trump is probably the only man on Earth who would brag about not having learned a thing since first grade. In his biography, Trump said:
“When I look at myself in the first grade and I look at myself now, I’m basically the same. The temperament is not that different.”
Trump was bragging. Or, at least, in his mind, he was bragging. And that is one of the most stunning things said by a man who has spent his entire life saying stunning things. He has also lied his whole life, but the quote above is almost certainly true.
Part of the purpose in life is enjoying maturation. Yes, we’d all like to be 21 again, but only if we could bring our 50-year-old minds with us; otherwise, we’d be the same stupid morons making the same stupid mistakes. If you’re not going to mature and be “better” over time, then what’s the point?
But Newt Gingrich believes that this is Trump’s secret sauce even though there is no secret sauce, they’re all a mix of ketchup, mayonnaise, and a little bit of horseradish.
Regardless, this “first grade” thing is why Trump is the leader of “working Americans” (No, he’s actually the leader of an increasingly white-Christian-nationalist movement).
Gingrich actually said that Trump speaks to his voters at a 3rd, 4th, or 5th-grade level, and that’s why he’s popular, that’s why Trump is beloved by “working Americans.”
No, he is beloved by some working Americans who understand things at 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade levels and don’t appreciate nuance or that the world is both big and complicated, which require adults who have studied complicated issues and use complicated words and ideas to help everyone. And Newt means “blue collar” when he says “working men and women…”
Newt? There are a LOT of blue-collar working men and women who are far too brilliant to want to be spoken to at a 4th-grade level and consider it offensive and condescending.
Nope. Newt is proud to claim that you gotta be stupid to be a Trumper:
Gingrich: One of Trump’s great advantages is he talks at a level where 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade educations can say “oh yeah, I get that.” pic.twitter.com/wigU4DJmHZ [1]
— Acyn (@Acyn) May 25, 2023 [2]
Preach it! And as you’d imagine, Twitter loved it:
Trump is on a third grade level, so this isn’t an act.
— Hoodlum 🇺🇸 (@NotHoodlum) May 25, 2023 [3]
I mean he has a point.
— Jacob Bloom (@JacobBloom31) May 25, 2023 [4]
Saying the quiet part out loud. pic.twitter.com/EXaLmi8vmw [5]
— Chris D. Jackson (@ChrisDJackson) May 25, 2023 [6]
He appeals to the lowest common denominator. #math [7]
— Lorne Freund (@VonVonTheNutGuy) May 25, 2023 [8]
The fact that he speaks to the children says everything you need to know about the educational level the Right is shooting for.#ItsACult [9]
— Dad Of 4A's (@4a_of) May 25, 2023 [10]
I don't see where that's good for somebody that's running a country. SMH
— Rebel (@ReneeWatson68) May 25, 2023 [11]
Awesome. We’re talking about folks with the wits of 8-10 year olds. Although I think my young nephews might vote more reasonably than some of my coworkers.
— MidLifeBarnFire (@MidLifeBarnFire) May 25, 2023 [12]
And there’s the answer for why it’s so easy to get away with 1000s of lies.
— FuckFaceVonFormerGuy (@Life_IsABanquet) May 25, 2023 [13]
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[email protected], @JasonMiciak, Nicole Hickman