New and updated for 2025

Sunday November 10, 2024, By Graeme MacKay, The Hall of Presidents

As has become my tradition for the past three Presidential Elections, I have updated my chart of Presidential caricatures, a project I began during Barack Obama’s second term. My fascination with these placemat portraits, which condense history into a series of tiny images and years, dates back to my childhood. The most memorable piece from my early years was the chart found in the “Presidents of the United States of America” section of the World Book Encyclopedia. Long before Google and the Internet existed, this encyclopedia served as my personal search engine. The family edition we kept on our living room bookshelf included volumes that extended only to 1978, leaving Jimmy Carter as the last President featured, and I distinctly remember a rather unflattering photo of him.

This morning, the official results from Arizona confirmed that its electoral votes will go to Trump, marking a clean sweep of all six battleground states in the 2024 election.

Over the past few days, I’ve been immersed in the aftermath of last Wednesday morning when a victorious Trump proclaimed the dawn of America’s golden age—a sentiment whose resonance I remain uncertain about. I’ve engaged with a continuous stream of analysis through articles, videos, and podcasts.

Among the commentary, three articles particularly stood out to me.

Trump’s election is a crisis like no other, not only for the U.S. but the world, By Andrew Coyne, The Globe and Mail

Starting in my home country of Canada, in his Globe & Mail op-Ed, Andrew Coyne argues that Donald Trump’s election represents an unprecedented crisis not just for the U.S., but for the entire world. Despite his questionable character and history of misconduct, Trump has garnered support, leading to a situation where a “gangster” now governs with a focus on vengeance and self-preservation. The implications of his presidency are dire, threatening NATO’s stability and potentially emboldening adversaries like Russia and China. Domestically, Trump is expected to consolidate power by replacing civil servants with loyalists and intimidating dissenters, undermining the rule of law. His policies, including significant tariffs and a controversial plan to deport millions of undocumented immigrants, are predicted to destabilize the economy and societal order. Coyne expresses concern that many Americans may become desensitized to these actions, further eroding democratic norms, while Canada may also experience repercussions, from an influx of refugees to a degradation of its own political landscape. Ultimately, Coyne conveys a deep sense of fear and disillusionment regarding the current state of American politics and its future trajectory.

Why Does No One Understand the Real Reason Trump Won? By Michael Tomasky, The New Republic

In the New Republic, Michael Tomasky’s argues that the real reason Donald Trump won isn’t rooted in the economy or specific issues but rather in the pervasive influence of right-wing media, which shapes public perception and sets the news agenda. Despite Trump’s criminal history and controversial statements, many voters failed to recognize these disqualifications, largely due to a media landscape dominated by outlets like Fox News, Newsmax, and others that promote a distorted reality. This media ecosystem presents Trump as a defender against perceived threats, while painting Democrats as elitist adversaries. Tomasky emphasizes that the right-wing media not only amplifies Trump’s messages but often originates them, creating a feedback loop that legitimizes his narrative. He warns that unless liberals recognize and counter this media dominance, the Democratic Party’s brand will continue to suffer, and the political landscape will remain skewed against them.

I’m a rare Democrat who admits the loss is our fault By Hadley Freeman, The Sunday Times

Lastly, from the London Sunday Times, Hadley Freeman’s reflects on the Democratic Party’s failure to connect with voters, particularly in light of Donald Trump’s recent victory. She admits that while she has long been a Democrat, her reactions to Trump’s initial election in 2016—such as joining activist groups and expressing outrage—were ultimately unproductive. Freeman argues that the left’s focus on moral superiority rather than practical solutions to pressing issues like the economy and immigration has alienated many voters, including minorities who shifted towards Trump. She criticizes the tendency to attribute electoral losses to racism or misogyny while ignoring the importance of tangible policies that resonate with everyday concerns. Freeman emphasizes that the Democrats must prioritize addressing real problems rather than retreating into self-righteousness, as doing so could lead to further electoral failures and a disconnection from the electorate’s needs.

As a new/old portrait gets added to the Presidential placemat chart, we find ourselves facing the reality of Trump 2.0—a phenomenon rooted not just in his controversial persona but also in the profound influence of right-wing media and the Democratic Party’s disconnect from voters. This new era is defined by a political landscape where moral posturing often overshadows practical solutions, and where perception shapes reality far more than policy. As we stagger into this unsettling chapter, I invite readers to share any compelling forensic analyses that might shed further light on our current political climate. Got any? Your recommendations could help us better grasp the complexities at play as we chart the course ahead.

Link to the new Donald J. Trump 2.0. design