Forget Make America Great Again (again) as Donald Trump’s campaign slogan in 2024. A more appropriate one could be “Resistance is Futile”. After insisting he won the last presidential election, Trump has held on to his fans, while browbeating former Republican critics into bowing meekly to his demands. Can it only be a matter of time before the rest of America buckles and puts Trump back in the White House? If the behaviour of all those who privately can’t stand Trump but publicly applaud him is any guide, the answer is yes.
Love him or hate him, Trump’s ability to extract obedience on the Right is an impressive power that bolsters his mystique. Right now Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News presenter, is being feted as a celebrity in Moscow by the Russian media, while preparing to interview President Vladimir Putin for his internet channel. We don’t know yet whether their encounter will be as fawning as George Galloway’s meeting in Iraq with Saddam Hussein (“Sir, I salute your courage”) or whether Carlson has any vestiges of credibility as a journalist left. We do know that he shares Trump’s open admiration for Putin, has made no secret of his desire for a Russian victory over Ukraine and is the dominant voice on the Right pushing for Trump’s return to power.
