When the concept of a ‘jester bidding for presidency’ was echoed by the New York Daily News on June 17, 2015, it marked the commencement of business tycoon Donald Trump’s presidential journey. Throughout the 512-day campaign span, every traditional news source took turns to deride and mount attacks on Trump, repeatedly foretelling his inevitable loss. On the contrary, he confounded these predictions by not only becoming the 45th but also the 47th head of the United States. The ten most egregious misinterpretations of Trump’s political trajectory require a revisiting.
At number ten is an expression of gratitude from someone who believed that Trump’s campaign would self-destruct, thus offering them amusement. Over the following four years, it was insinuated that Russia had interfered in the favor of Trump. This claim, though, has been widely disputed.
The ninth instance involves a dialogue that assumed Trump’s victory could not be possible. The inference was that the billionaire would be a ‘lethal danger to the Republican Party’. Ironically, soon after this comment, Trump led several poll scores, significantly past the then widely-accepted contender Jeb Bush.
An eighth place misjudgment queried whether Trump genuinely believed in his prospects of presidency—a notion dismissed by New York magazine with the subtly titled, ‘Donald Trump is going to lose because he’s crazy.’
Coming in at number seven is the categorical dismissal by the Atlantic in July 2015, stating that Donald Trump will neither become the 45th nor any subsequent president of the United States. The audacious claim that his odds of nomination or election is an absolute nil turned out to be gravely mistaken.
At number six, Bloomberg blasted Trump’s flamboyant and ostentatious demeanor, declaring that it will keep him miles away from securing the Republican nomination or the presidency. Contrarily, Trump’s unique persona played a key role in him securing the presidency.
The fifth instance involves pollster Harry Enten equating Trump’s chances of winning the Republican nomination with his odds of making an appearance in another ‘Home Alone’ movie or playing in the NBA Finals. Unsurprisingly, Trump won the nomination with considerable ease before clinching the presidency.
The next misguided prediction, occupying the fourth slot, revolves around Bill Kristol’s fervent belief that Joe Biden would initiate and win his presidential bid. Ironically, these proclamations were characterized by an absence of action as Biden did not end up launching his campaign.
Third on the list is a journalist’s bold promise to consume a bag of aged nails if Trump, seen as a mere real estate mogul with elaborate hair, manages to gain the GOP nomination or surpasses then-anticipated Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton. This prediction conspicuously fell flat.
Number two on the list is a comment made about Trump knowing deep down his campaign was a lost cause, despite giving up a comfortable life to run for president. Little did they know this supposed defeatist move would result in a victorious campaign.
The topmost inaccurate forecast came directly from Nate Silver at FiveThirtyEight, who confidently stated that Trump would fail to secure the nomination, even questioning his sincerity in trying to achieve it. However, Silver’s past credibility associated with successful 2008 election predictions quickly lost its shine when Trump became president, defying these odds.
The last decade has seen a drastic shift in the political landscape since Trump entered the scene. The presumed ‘clown’, according to the New York Daily News, is now revered more than ever, leaving those pundits who frequently ridiculed him to reap what they sowed.