“Disinformation”: A Trumpian Horror Story
I’m reaching out to the polite, respectable Republican families.
Complete absence of integrity is a rhetorical superpower, by definition only available to the corrupt. You can say anything — about anything or anyone — with no nagging inner ethical compass. Now leverage that power in this era of rampant fact-check-exempt digital media. Irrational fear, loathing, and selfishness are sold wholesale. Truth and nuance have been conquered. Myth is immune to refutation. On Election Day 2024 about half of voters, just enough, determined that humanity, integrity, and veracity in American leadership are weaknesses, not strengths.
The political right honed mainstream disinformation dissemination during Barack Obama’s eight years as president. Half the country ultimately became susceptible to the galactic shell game of a 34-count convicted felon who was impeached for insurrection and conspiracy to overturn an election; was impeached for extorting a desperate U.S. ally; corruptly contributed to an estimated several hundred thousand additional pandemic deaths; has over $90 million in judgments against him for sexual assault and defamation; and has over $450 million in judgments against him for business fraud.
But wait! There’s more: Russian dictator and enemy of democracy Vladimir Putin continues to play Donald like a finely tuned balalaika, shifting world values to the detriment of free people and U.S. allied relationships. Why does Mr. Trump consistently acquiesce to Russia? No one knows.
The decay of truth in the 21st century can be traced to Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich’s rise in the 1990s. He popularized the demonization of political opponents through fabrication. The Gingrichian style of “say-anything politics” burgeoned during the two-term administration of the first African American commander in chief. It expanded, fully embracing flagrant racism, white nationalism, and xenophobia. During the Obama presidency, prospective presidential candidate Donald Trump joined in the merriment. He learned from the best, then wildly surpassed all of them in his mastery of disinformation. He excelled at bringing out the worst in his followers.
Disinformation: How the Obama Era Led to a Trump Era (2025) offers an examination of right-wing propaganda and ultimately how our country succumbed to the greatest feat of political confidence artistry in American history.■
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I’ve been a full-time professional writer and editor since 2010 and hold degrees in communications and counseling. I’m a long-time political observer and editor of current affairs magazine GraniteWord.com. I have written a half-dozen nonfiction books on 21st century U.S. politics, one being a 2023 International Book Awards Finalist. My turn-ons are running my (good) dog, Bob Barker, and railing about the lack of critical thinking and civics studies in primary and secondary education. (Purchase book at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DT9JSBCC )
