Anton Savage: What Wrestlemania can teach us about Donald Trump’s appeal

Originally published in the Business Post.

Since he first ran in 2016, the world’s media has struggled to understand the popularity of Donald Trump. What is it that he offers his MAGA base? Why do they vote for him when so many of his policies are inimical to their interests? Why do his prosecutions, lies and pathological immorality not alienate his supporters?

Three quarters of Trump’s support is easy to explain - the Christian right who wanted a stacked US supreme court and Roe v Wade overturned, the mega-rich seeking low taxes and minimal regulation. The Tea Party right-wing second amendment types desiring guns, freedom and America first.

All these traditionally Republican cohorts found in Trump a candidate who would happily deliver on their desires with none of the liberal encumbrances that dogged some former candidates (looking at you Mitt Romney).

That doesn’t explain the MAGA base though. Extra-urban white middle-aged guys with no college education. The people Hillary Clinton (ill-advisedly) termed the deplorables. Political analysts of every hue have struggled to explain why they come out in huge numbers to listen to Trump rabbit on about windmills causing cancer and the size of the late Arnold Palmer’s penis.

They are unwavering and unpersuadable - convictions, insurrections, election interference, none of it weakens their commitment to their guy. Viewed through the lens of normal political analysis, this makes no sense. Thankfully, Netflix has just released a documentary that solves this particular riddle.

Click here to read the full article.