Did We Really Vote for This?

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Donald Trump stars in a Grim Reaper-themed AI-generated video posted to his Truth Social account mocking Democrats. Link to video on Truth Social

In a world that demands clarity, courage, and competence from the American presidency, we are instead presented with a spectacle—a digital theater of grievance and mockery. The latest episode, featuring Russ Vought cast as a grim reaper in an AI-generated video, isn’t just juvenile. It’s a symbolic inversion of presidential gravitas. The office once defined by deliberation and dignity now functions as a meme factory, where trolling replaces leadership and spectacle trumps substance.

This isn’t satire. It’s governance.

When the president chooses AI dramatizations over policy, and vengeance over vision, the message to the world is clear: America has traded statesmanship for showmanship. Our allies wince, our adversaries smirk, and our democratic ideals—once admired—now risk becoming punchlines. The credibility of American leadership, built over generations through diplomacy, principle, and persuasion, is undermined by impulsive theatrics and algorithmic ego-stroking.

But this isn’t just about one man’s behavior. It’s about the civic mirror we hold up to ourselves. We voted for this. We handed the nuclear codes to someone who prefers digital cosplay to constitutional responsibility. We chose a leader who weaponizes mockery instead of mobilizing unity. And in doing so, we’ve made our democracy look not just fragile—but foolish.

If America is to reclaim its stature, we must first reclaim the meaning of leadership. Not with avatars or tantrums, but with integrity, humility, and a renewed commitment to truth. The presidency is not a stage—it’s a responsibility. And it’s time we stopped applauding the show and started demanding the substance.

FTS

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