Let’s cast our minds back to the morning of the 2nd of June, 2024. On this notable day, Fox & Friends Weekend hosted Donald Trump, a mere three days after a ruling found him guilty in a scandal involving hush-money payments towards an adult film star. The topic raised by Campos-Duffy, and one that Trump has always had a peculiar fascination with, was that of vindication. Following the verdict that announced Trump guilty on 34 counts related to fraudulent business record maintenance to veil an illicit transaction of $130,000 to Stormy Daniels, Campos-Duffy coaxed him into speaking his mind.
Addressing a past proclamation where Trump declared his success to be his revenge, Campos-Duffy asked if the sentiment still held. Trump responded by lauding the beauty of the statement, affirming that success will indeed be the sweetest form of payback for him. This response, however, highlighted more than just an affirmation – it subtly hints at the defensive nature and the broad streak of vengeance fueled by criticism that lies within him. Trump voiced his disdain for the detractors, calling them sick and directing ire towards those who initiated criminal cases against him.
Despite all, Trump’s casual boasting about his ‘tough attitude’ found room in the conversation. He brought into focus his decision to fire FBI Director Jim Comey during his tenure. However, when pushed towards the question of retaliation and retribution, his conviction dipped into ambiguity. Paying lip service to the beautiful sentiment of success as revenge, Trump confessed, it was hard not to harbor resentment against his detractors, who he described as heinous.
A sympathetic Cain nudged Trump towards clearer response. The well-known refrain of ‘Lock her up’ relating to Hillary Clinton was invoked in the hopes of eliciting a straightforward response. Trump’s answer was cloaked in equivocation and uncertainty; he mentioned defeating Clinton and the demands of his supporters to imprison her. Yet, he refrained from taking strict action, considering it brutal, but in the aftermath of the recent verdict, his feelings could potentially take a darker turn. This lack of clarity was a stark shift from Trump’s usual clear-cut, often brutal stance.
Trump portrayed a surprising level of vulnerability, displaying his lifelong struggle with the desire for revenge. This exchange with Fox broadcast subtly suggested that his vindictiveness could exert a dangerous influence if given a chance. However, the inability to provide a firm answer appeared to depict self-awareness in Trump. It suggested a confession underlying the bravado; namely, the improbability of him discarding the pursuit of retribution – a telling sign of his character.
Trump’s desire for retaliation and his inability to escape it echoes a propensity far more dangerous than what Richard Nixon ever displayed. Trump has shown himself unable to resist the call of revenge – a trait he willingly indulged during his tenure. His constant grudge keeping and retaliations, should he ever return to the Presidency, would be a priority, given an understanding of his persona.
Trump’s obsession to settle scores and use his power to target adversaries goes beyond political norms. He targets not only political opponents but also institutions and organizations. His insecurities and relentless pursuit of grudge accounting have defined his life, making his widespread, unscrupulous retaliatory practices a cornerstone of his actions.
Trump’s relentless drive for vengeance pushed him to use his presidential power in a manner that surpasses even Richard Nixon’s imagination. He extended his ruthless quest to target political opponents and critics like John Bolton, Mike Pompeo, and not forgetting Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, from whom he withdrew security protocols and clearances.
Following the path of a mob boss, Trump compelled law firms that previously employed his political or legal challengers to swear allegiance by promising immense amounts of free legal services to his favored causes. In the previous week, he signed executive orders that targeted Chris Krebs, the erstwhile national cybersecurity chief, and Miles Taylor, a Department of Homeland Security official who anonymously authored an op-ed and a book criticizing Trump, underlining his capacity for retribution.
He claims his actions have been a response to institutions and organizations who have wronged him or played a part in the election he deemed rigged. From universities to cultural institutions to news organizations, Trump’s obsession with revenge knows no bounds. Despite the tumultuousness of his actions, they remain sidelined in the media coverage, drowned amidst a sea of ongoing controversies.
In a startling twist, Trump uses these coerced settlements from law firms to support his unfounded claims that the 2020 election was compromised. He asserts that the offered free services from these firms signify their guilt, thereby indirectly strengthening his narrative. Each surrender to a Trump-driven onslaught only bolsters his authoritarian rule and claims of victimhood.
Several firms, law professors, and retired judges, numbering over 500, have filed supporting documents for the law firms enduring Trump’s attack. Regardless of this bold support, many leaders, too afraid of Trump’s wrath, remain silent in the legal arena and various other sectors.
Trump’s persistent pursuit of revenge and obsession has the potential to usher in a dangerous era in American politics. His actions and the widespread fear they provoke could potentially harm the country’s democratic framework, with any possibility of retaliation looming over dissenters. These actions reinforce his vindictive nature and make it clear that hostility, retribution, and audacity are etched into his political modus operandi.