Opinion Trump and Musk

Opinion Trump, Musk, and the significance of ‘exaggeration’ in storytelling. When I sought to verify the accuracy of an amusing family story she told to a large, amused audience two decades ago, a dear aunt screamed, “Why harp on facts, it’s exaggeration that makes a story interesting!” Every member of my tribe cheered him on, and it marked the beginning of an amazing evening.

Donald Trump’s interview with Elon Musk transported me back in time as I strolled through the conversation. Both Trump and Musk understand the significance of hyperbole in any story. The Indian epic poets were aware of this. Herodotus understood this. So did Boccaccio, Chaucer, and Shakespeare. Trump’s exaggeration, bolstered by his interviewer, made for a compelling story for his supporters. Throughout the live broadcast, he sensed the presence of all 60 million people. This number is also an exaggeration.

Also Read : Musk’s X chat with Trump is plagued by technical difficulties

Musk’s X chat with Trump is plagued by technical difficulties

Elon Musk‘s highly anticipated talks with Republican presidential contender Donald Trump on the billionaire’s Platform X have been overshadowed by technical complications.

The conversation, in which Mr. Musk addressed lively questions about immigration and inflation, started more than 40 minutes late due to technical problems for many users.

A risk worth taking

But why does Trump always exaggerate, despite the legions of fact-checkers eager to give every syllable he says the hang-draw-quarters treatment? Political storytelling is judged in a different manner than literary reading. Is this a risk worth taking? The answer is an emphatic yes.

Trump exploits narcissism by making outrageous statements. To better comprehend this link, consider what experts have to say about narcissism. “The narcissistically involved person perceives only one reality: his own thoughts, feelings, and needs. Eric Fromm stated in 1950 that the outer world is not viewed or recognized objectively, that is, as existing on his own criteria, conditions, and wants. Fromm also says that narcissists possess a strong feeling of entitlement. It reveals the reasons behind Trump’s continued excesses.

Narcissism and Politics

All politicians are narcissistic in some form, which permits them to enter and subsequently remain in politics. However, narcissism is exclusive to particular political views. Understanding the interrelationships between narcissism and sentiments of entitlement is critical when examining why Trump’s narcissism benefits him politically. Political scientist Peter K. A study conducted by Hetemi and Zoltan Fazekas concluded that “in the 2016 election, higher entitlements reflected the mood of the general population, certainly among the working class, who overwhelmingly voted Republican”. Hetemi and Fajekara contend that narcissism may be a factor in the emergence of populist politics. Trump supporters and others who are inquisitive about him are given a blanket of familiarity.

Simply put, Trump’s worldview, presented with an exaggerated feeling of self-importance and confidence, captivates audiences. Who are worried about their entitlements being eroded? And this is why statements like “Our crime rate is going through the roof” are effective. Who cares if the FBI states that crime rates have regularly decreased since 2020, his previous presidency? Add to that a startling assertion about Kamala Harris: “She wants to release all of the prisoners she’s holding, some of whom are extremely dangerous.” “The one that just came out today,” and you’ve effectively generated a sense of impending doom.

Trump, the savior

Trump is counting on honest Americans to believe their rights are being eroded by outsiders. As a result, he makes inflated assertions regarding illegal immigration, such as “You have millions of people coming in a month” and “I believe we have more than 20 million people coming into our country”. He wants people to believe they are in a unique circumstance, stating, “I believe we have seen the greatest inflation in 100 years. “They say 48 years, but I don’t believe it.” Outsiders nibbling away at our shrinking rights – who among us, narcissist or not, would find that desirable?

People must first despair for the narcissist before rescuing him by showing his excessive conviction in himself. Trump wants Americans to believe that he alone can solve the situation. Similarly, he can “solve” the Iran and China crises for the US. “Iran crumbled because I warned China, ‘If you buy from Iran…’ Oil is everything; that’s where the money is. ‘…If you buy oil from Iran, you don’t leave. Do commerce with the United States.’ And I meant it, and they said, ‘We’ll pass,’ so they didn’t buy oil. America can only be made great again once it is clear that it is in ruins. And only Trump has the ability to make it great again.
So Trump’s talk with Musk should not be viewed as a “horse” that dramatically harmed his presidential chances, but rather as a tried-and-true strategy geared at his constituents and swing voters. It is unclear whether he will duplicate his 2016 results.

By that point, I had been immersed in the realm of storytelling.