It is 20 degrees outside and there is a line to hear the speech of a lifetime that many will never hear again. It is 930 am and the doors were supposed to be opened at 900. Yet, people faithfully wait in line to see a person that they resonate with. “We never thought this day would come”, one person said. “He says what we all have been thinking” says another. There are no complaints of the cold weather or the wait in line, just echoes of excitement to be one of the few to get into the event. Finally, the doors open and everyone goes in in almost a military style fashion. They enter into a large ballroom filled with music and signs everywhere. There is even a cardboard cutout of the person they were waiting to see, so people can take pictures. Shortly afterward, the lights begin to dim, the cheering becomes louder and a man comes out to give an introduction. “Let me introduce to you to a man that has been one of my mentors for years”… Donald J. Trump.
Donald Trump’s rise in the political arena has gotten many baffled. But with the power that Donald Trump holds, his followers seem to be minions that hang on his every word. His power brings about great influence and this brings about a shift in attitude for a good percentage of the demographic. These attitudes have been semi-quieted for years due to the social insensitivity that they have caused. These attitudes are mostly, inherited and learned from likeminded individuals. So what are these attitudes? Most of Trumps rhetoric deals with alienation, separation, condemnation and terrorization. His followers, those that have felt the same in some regard are now starting to proudly come out of the woodwork. The KKK is resurfacing in full throttle and Donald Trump has yet to renounce their endorsement of him. His influence has stretched across many spectrums and we are now seeing how detrimental this has become.
To continue this further, the tactics the Donald Trump are using to gather followers have also propelled his campaign to almost an unstoppable level. These tactics are done to make him seem like a threat to anyone that dares to rise up against him. These tactics include, threats, lying, fearmongering, and talk of being so filthy rich that he can do anything, anywhere at any time. Although Donald Trump was a well-known businessman before he jumped into politics, we are now seeing a different side of him. For those that were seeking a change to the status quo, Donald Trump provides a bit of comfort that he will change all that is wrong and make it right. This entices potential followers to want to know more and even provides then with a boost of confidence within themselves that perhaps, now, they too can be a bombast, brash and cocky as the republican frontrunner.
So what kind of power does Donald Trump hold? I think it is a combination of reward and coercive. With Trump reward power. With reward power, Trump is holding all of the cards. The reward seems to be “making America great again” and without him it can’t be possible. Additionally, Trump seems to think that he can only get his way by bullying. He has threatened to sue, to tell secrets and many other things just to get his way. This is coercive power.
To conclude, Trump has become an authoritative, liking, and scarcity figure all in one. He has captivated the attention of those that dream of a revolution. His style of leadership is brash and highfalutin, but he has tapped into a demographic that agrees with his every word. His name itself signals great power for those that desire to follow in his footsteps.
Reference:
Fraude, Arnaude. The age of Minions. Picture. Linkedin.com. web. May 11, 2015