During a recent broadcast of ‘The Breakfast Club,’ one caller proved that vitriol and a refusal to face facts can run rampant, especially when it comes to President Donald Trump’s position. The show’s segment, ‘Front Page News,’ saw hosts grapple with an irate caller vehemently against addressing Donald Trump by his lawful title – ‘the president’.
Transitioning into ‘Get It Off Your Chest’ segment, one female listener, seemingly confused about who had referred to Trump as the president earlier in the show, seemed to let her fury take the driver’s seat. She lambasted the use of the honorable title for Trump, adhering instead to what many mainstream media outlets have been doing – reducing the President to just ‘Donald Trump’.
Expressing her pressing issue, the caller vented, ‘I just can’t wrap my head around why someone would continue to call that orange guy Donald Trump, ‘the president.’ Most news outlets are only using his name. I mean, does referring to him as the president mean y’all approve of him?’ Confusion seems rife in such questioning – regarding both the title in use and the respect garnered by it.
In a reasoned tone, the co-host responded, ‘Look, like it or not, he’s the president of the United States.’ But the adamant caller seemed to be in denial of this reality. The coherent reality we all live in, it seems, is not enough for some.
With a touch of sardonic humor, the co-host pressed her, ‘Well if he’s not the president, then who is he? What’s your classification for him? I mean, this is not about rooting for him or against him.’ Yet, the caller chose to stick to her unwarranted aversion.
Reality denial continued as the caller claimed Trump had openly admitted to stealing the election, accusing the hosts of being ‘absolutely ignorant.’ False accusations and baseless claims seem to be the sweet nectar for some, it seems.
Unfazed by the accusations, the co-host addressed the caller’s seeming unwillingness to accept reality, ‘He is the president. Have a great day, and don’t get hung up on what I call him. He’s the president of this nation. If that’s not something you can stomach, perhaps you should consider relocating.’
Her response continued, ‘I mean, you can always move out of the country. I’m not a fan either but let’s stop denying the fact that Donald Trump is our president. That’s how it is.’ The co-host’s grounded acceptance of reality provided a stark contrast to the caller’s convoluted narrative.
Despite the co-host’s attempt at bringing the conversation to a reasonable close, the caller decided not to further engage and hung up. This behavior is typical of those who can’t bear to confront the truth and instead opt to hang up when faced with it.
In a remarkable display of democracy, Trump defeated former Vice President Kamala Harris last November. He won every single one of the seven battleground states, and walked away with the national popular vote – a feat that some refuse to acknowledge even today.
It’s indeed ironic that Harris, after the dust settled, nudged her supporters to embrace the election results and come to terms with Trump’s triumph. Yet, she herself had to eat humble pie and concede the Presidential race.
On January 20th, Trump was officially sworn in as the 47th president of the United States, yet we have a segment of our population that still seems to resist this reality. The naysayers and dissenters continue to latch onto denial and derision instead of accepting the truth.
During his inaugural address inside the majestic Capitol Rotunda, President Trump announced the arrival of a new ‘golden age’ for the United States. This was met with mockery and cynicism by some, rather than seen as a call-to-arms for a united, prosperous America for all.
The episode highlights the deep trenches of division people dig to avoid the discomfort of a reality they don’t like. But as evident, the sun will rise every morning – and Donald Trump is the President of the United States, whether some sections of our society choose to accept him or not.
In closing, it begs the question – when will this denial end, and when will the acceptance of democratic outcomes start? After all, the foundation of democracy is being able to rally behind a president, even if he wasn’t your personal choice.