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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Comment
Simon Jenkins

Yes, Trump is awful. But if there’s a silver lining, it’s a chance for progressives to reflect on what they got wrong

Trump supporters in Sacramento, California, 6 November 2024
Trump supporters in Sacramento, California, 6 November 2024. Photograph: Paul Kitagaki Jr/Zuma Press Wire/Rex/Shutterstock

Yes, we all know it looks terrible. We have heard what Donald Trump has promised. But could there be silver linings to these ominous clouds? The election was two days ago. Tomorrow is another day, and this strange, faulty, thin-skinned but tough-as-nails character is notable for one thing: unpredictability.

The essence of Trump is that he is not a politician but an egotistical wheeler-dealer. He is not a strategist, let alone an ideologue. Dealers are judged by their deeds, not their words. They react to circumstance by talking, negotiating, not policymaking. Trump is said by his friends to be aware of the mistakes he made last time round. That he is desperate not to do so again is good news.

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