by Hannes Wessels
Ever since Donald Trump came onto the political stage over ten years ago I have found myself engaged in verbal combat with countless people, many of whom were (some no longer) good friends. I found myself in an increasingly lonely place as the vast majority disagreed, some vehemently, with my contrarian view of the ‘Orange Man’, as many of his detractors like to refer to him. They appeared to be on the winning side; after all virtually the entire Western media, the political establishment, along with Hollywood and the entertainment industry, were solidly of the same opinion.
What led me to anguish, and sometimes anger, was I found that even when I felt I had managed to score some points on his behalf by carefully explaining his actual, not imagined, positions on issues of a political nature, that rationale would be abruptly brushed aside with the declaration that all that was irrelevant simply because he was an undeniably ‘horrible man’, an innately nasty individual who was clearly (to them) a bigot, buffoon, misogynist, racist and any other pejoratives one might like to mention. In their minds, the fact that I could muster the temerity to defend him was obnoxious and intolerable. Up against this sort of mindset I invariably found myself lost for words and energy, and gave up the argument along with a few friendships.
With this backdrop to recent events, I would be lying if I said I was not enjoying some moments of quiet conceit as I imagine what is going on in their minds and in the minds of hundreds of millions of people like them. After all, they have been happily living their lives riding the bandwagon, in the comfort zone that comes with sharing the conventional wisdom about a man, that has now blown up in their faces. This has come as a result of empirical evidence to the contrary, leaving them scrambling for reasons to continue to loathe the man, and people like me who have always liked him.
Just a few examples from Hollywood include Cher calling Trump a ‘f..ing idiot’, while wishing he ‘..would fall off the earth’, comedian Kathy Griffin posing with a fake of Trump’s severed head dripping blood, but Robert De Niro probably best put into words what the multitude were thinking: ‘I’ve spent a lot of time studying bad men,’ he wrote on X. ‘I’ve examined their characteristics, their mannerisms, the utter banality of their cruelty. Yes there’s something different about Donald Trump. When I look at him, I don’t see a bad man. Truly, I see an evil one. Over the years I’ve met gangsters here and there. This guy tries to be one but he can’t quite pull it off. Yes even criminals usually have a sense of what is right and wrong … they have a moral code, however warped. Donald Trump does not.. no morals or ethics. No sense of right or wrong. No regard for anyone but himself … He has contempt for all.’
The list of prominent politicians who fall into this category would require a tome rather than an article but every senior member of the current British government including the prime minister Keir Starmer falls four-square into this group, along with virtually every senior European Union politician and bureaucrat barring exceptions like Italy’s Meloni and Hungary’s Orban.
PM Starmer is on record calling some of Trump’s beliefs, ‘absolutely repugnant’, adding he does not understand the words ‘humanity and dignity’. His close friend and political ally, Sir Sadiq Khan has accused Trump of being ‘racist’, ‘sexist’, ‘misogynistic’, and ‘Islamophobic’. These sentiments have been echoed by Energy Secretary Ed Miliband and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, although Lammy went a little further and called the American president a ‘… neo Nazi sympathising sociopath’. Just what Sir Sadiq has to say about Trump’s alleged Islamophobia in the wake of virtually the entire Islamic world rallying behind him to support the Gaza peace plan is unknown.
Speaking on behalf of the European Union in 2021 at Davos where she was cheered on by the delegates, the Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, alleged that Trump’s tenure in the White House may have permanently damaged democracy. Ironically, she then went on to call for tighter censorship control over social media which Trump strongly opposes as he believes it inhibits freedom of expression.
It is of great interest to me, and a reflection on their wisdom, that the leaders of China and the Russian Federation, Xi Jinping, and Vladimir Putin, both coming from the position of a politically adversarial relationship, never joined in on these personal attacks. It appears they respected the American president then and they respect him now.
Only nine months into his second term President Trump has secured his country’s borders, negotiated trade deals that favour American business, reduced crime in the cities, grown the economy, reduced unemployment and is set to cut taxes. His popularity at home is at an all time high. America is truly great again and helping make the world a better place.
Abroad he has used US power and influence to end or thwart wars between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Pakistan and India, Cambodia and Thailand, Egypt and Ethiopia, Serbia and Kosovo, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, and in a stunning display of statesmanship he has orchestrated an unprecedented accord in the Middle East with the end of hostilities between Israel and Hamas over Gaza.
Just how durable these agreements will be, remains to be seen but surely one has to be on mind altering drugs, or suffering from a bad case of TDS (Trump Derangement Syndrome) to believe that this is a record reflecting the behaviour of an ‘idiot’, or an ‘evil man’, most of the world loved to hate?
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My dislike of Trump and most of what he stands for stems from his lies, his blatant dishonesty about his lost election, and the crowd of sycophantic crooks he has gathered around him.
I disagree with people who say that only he could have started the cease fire process in the Middle East – it was on the cards to happen when the IDF got to the point where Hamas had no further to run. The rest of Trump’s ‘peace ‘ boasts are hollow.
His murder of people in fast boats off Venezuela is a crime – no war has been declared, and a parallel operation in the Gulf of Oman by the UK shows how it CAN be done, using a helicopter and a Royal Marine sniper, take out the outboard motors, arrest the crew and destroy the drugs.
I cannot wait for Trump to either step down or be impeached, and the US will be better off all round.
Poor you, keep on trying to get your highly capable Biden back in the WH, or if unable, his brilliant 2ic comediant.
Your comments are not original but never mind. Quick questions for you:
1. Were you vaxxed against COVID?
2. Is climate change man-made?
3. Did/would have you voted for Harris?
4. Are the millions of illegal immigrants worldwide a good thing?
5. Is your family name misspelled?
😎😎
I’m proud of you Hannes not only for your support of Donald J. Trump but because you don’t easily bend with the prejudices of the prevailing zeitgeist. I remind myself that you are a tertiary educated man and your RSA law degree probably did open the door to a wider and more critical thinking acuity. Australoia is riddled with petty small thinkers, particularly on the left but occasionally a RINO on the right and I avoid them like the plague. My four children and their partners are tertiary educated, three are lawyers, but all are leftists and anti-Trumpists. You can only imagine how that makes me feel.
At last a sensible assessment of a very capable POTUS. He’s done more in 9 months than all the talking heads in Europe have done in years, to their very evident embarressment. The lack of any sensible strategies to right our very obvious problems, when compared to that force of nature is shocking and reveals a gutlessness endemic to so-called ‘mature politics’ which have cursed us to mediocrity. Long live Trump and thanks to you, Hannes.
Good one H! I too do not even begin to understand the all-too-common violent TDS that we encounter so frequently from Trump haters. To mention his name, while praising his thus far super-stellar presidency, more often than not unleashes a stream of intense (and based on his astonishing presidential accomplishments, totally illogical) vitriol from the listener.
If I like that venom spewing speaker and prefer to continue my relationship with him or her, I employ an effective “notes-to-self” technique – that I will henceforth never, EVER, bring up Trump matters or even say the T word again in that person’s presence – and I quickly move on to less infuriating or inflammatory topics.
This behaviour often applies to Putin as well, especially with Finns / nations that Russia has brutally stomped on historically and the backlash with this bloke is often even more intense. The difference being that Putin likely deserves a lot of the rhetoric he provokes from these people, while Trump emphatically does not. While he is brash in the extreme he IS the best President America has ever had.
But, being refreshingly transparent, DJT calls a spade a @#$*ing shovel, and is not particularly careful with his commentary – but his brutally honest choice of words are often the right ones, and I admire the fact that he is strong and convicted enough to say it like it is, a character trait that I find marvelously endearing. Give me someone honest and straightforward anytime!
And with people I do not know or particularly care for, these days I actually use their biased and disagreeable stance regarding DJT as an excellent reason to cease and desist from interacting with that idiot ever again!
There are virtually no Trump haters on my Christmas card list.
Hey Hannes, trust you are well. I’ll start off by saying I have never liked Trump the man, from well before he got into politics, and my view of him personnally has not changed. This despite my being fundamentally a Republican at heart. I believe he is narcissistic, self serving and fundamentally corrupt. That hasn’t changed. Having said that, I agree with you that he has done a lot of good since his re-election, eg going after the woke, targeting China and improving US border control. He has also forced the rest of NATO to wake up and take re-armament seriously. He seems to be growing as a ‘politician’ – thank goodness. He’s made mistakes, like trusting Putin. I believe he will regret his tariff regime when the inflationary effect is felt at home, including amongst his faithful base. But that remains to be seen, so let’s wait until we call it one way or another. Now he has a potentially fantastic achievement in Gaza. I say potentially, because he needs to cement the ceasefire, and Hamas is already abusing it. Whether he brings them to heel or not will probably be the real test, and the defining point of a potentially permanent peace. I hope he does it – obviously. And I hope he then shows the same intent in resolving the Russia Ukraine conflict. If he does that, you will find a lot of the fence sitters and even the ant-Trumpers will come down on his side. As always, real achievements will ultimately be more important than the rhetoric from both sides. Stay well, and keep these blogs coming!!
I could not have better explained my personal feelings, vis-a-vis Trump, myself. Well done Hannes!!
A dynamic and necessary buffoon comming to the rescue of a pathetic, naive, shallow and leaderless world.
Long live Boswell-Wilkie circus!!
Another great article Hannes, I quite agree with you. Trump is the best thing that has happened in this topsy turvy modern age. Love him!
Every rabidly anti-Trumper has only 1 news source, lying left wing so call mainstream media. 10 years of miss quotes, partial truths and flat out lies against 1 man will have that effect if that’s all you read or hear.
But i believe that Trump is saving western civilization from the nihilistic loony left, who came so close to the new Orwellian world order.
Welcome to the world we live in – you are in the masterclass of herd psychology, full of stupid and ever so gullible people.
Once upon a news cycle, a man with orange skin and a Twitter account broke the collective psyche of half the Western world. His crimes? Saying things out loud that politicians usually whisper, refusing to apologise for existing, and—most unforgivably—winning.
Enter Trump Derangement Syndrome (you coined it): a condition where rational thought is replaced by Pavlovian outrage. Symptoms include spontaneous shrieking at red hats, hallucinations of fascism in golf swings, and the inability to distinguish policy from personality. The afflicted often gather in safe spaces, chanting “democracy” while demanding censorship.
But how did this epidemic spread? Simple. The media said he was bad. Then your friend said he was bad. Then your yoga instructor, your dog groomer, and that guy who once read half a Chomsky book. Suddenly, hating Trump became a moral obligation—like recycling, but louder.
The Democrats, ever the narrative artisans, painted him as a hybrid of Mussolini and a malfunctioning Roomba. Nuance was exiled. Complexity was treason. And the public? They nodded, reposted, and felt virtuous.
Meanwhile, Trump—unbothered—continued to live rent-free in their heads, occasionally tweeting just to stir the pot. The irony? The more they screamed, the stronger his myth grew.
So yes, people are gullible. But not because they’re stupid—because they’re social. And when the herd runs, few stop to ask why. They just moo louder.
I think you have summed this up perfectly Andrew. And I think this is why I lost respect for people; they were either too lazy to take the time out to form an independent opinion, or simply too scared to break from the pack? Either way, I’m getting too old and irritable to bother with that sort of person.
Another great post Hannes . I have believed in this man’s leadership abilities right from the start .
The Yanks will only realise what they had if he is replaced by another ‘Biden’ type of rubbish .
Great article, thank you.
The fact the the “Forever War” globalists are completely freaking out tells you that he is on the right track!
Bravo Hannes! Well said – and – as others have said here in the comments – a close reflection of my own experiences. No one wants to give the man any credit and the all claim that he’s an odious idiot while he gets on with winning.
Amen!
Great article Hannes , pay-back remains a bitch.
I honestly believe Trumpster will go down as one of the greatest presidents in history!
Very well said Hannes. I am on exactly the same page as you. This insane hatred of Trump must be one of the greatest mysteries of all time. Could it be mass mind control via the MSM, fear of a president who is completely different to the usual dead wood, or something else? Surely that amount of people can’t be that stupid! As someone involved in the safari industry I rekon 98% of our guests loathe Trump. Some of them seem to choke from the mere mention of his name and undergo physical torment!
I am similarly fascinated Alistair. Some people I know seem to be on the verge of a nervous breakdown over Trump. To say I feel anything other than rocks for them would be a lie!!
Feed that last group to the lions.
I support Trump because of the people he upsets. It is glorious!
I’m with you Sir!
Thank you for bravely stating the truth. I experience the same opposition when I point out the positives about Trump whom, in my opinion, represents one of the few sensible policy leaders today. Most of the European states are already beyond rescue. By their incredible naive immigration decisions, to which they fail to admit, they dug their own political graves. The control of their own countries shall be (“demogratically”) taken over by foreign “citizens” refusing to assimilate and simply rely on breeding to achieve dominance.
Interestingly, a huge amount of women despise the man. Kind-of knee-jerk stuff without putting proper thought into it.
And Starmer is the worst hypocrite of the lot. Shame on him for now trying his utmost to lick his bum at every turn.
I agree totally with you Hannes and have always been a staunch supporter of DJT. It is the idiotic woke left that hate Trump, and many do notb even know why – they just blindly believe everything the read or see on the biased media !
Your article is 100% correct. Trumps manner and style of speaking is somewhat off putting, however there is no denying his leadership is producing excellent results. He does what he says he is going to do….. a rare trait amongst all politicians world wide.
You say that Trevor but I think part of his appeal is he’s genuine; he’s not surrounded by a coterie of aides coaching him, he does it his way, (mostly without a teleprompter, and Obama and Biden couldn’t go to the loo without one) and you can love him or leave him.
With you all the way Hannes – I watched every moment with the same quiet satisfaction – from the Knesset, to the return of hostages and Egypt. Bottom line, love him or hate him, nobody else could have achieved this. Through history, God has chosen the strangest people to do what he wants done – Trump is no exception! Thank goodness!!
Thanks Jill. I do think he’s pulled these deals off because he’s acting from the heart and friends and enemies’ sense that; he wants to be your friend but also prepared to take up the fight if need be. Will be very interesting to see what transpires in ongoing efforts to settle China and end the war in Ukraine. We can only wish him well.
Excellent article Hannes, very well done!
Like you Hannes I have encountered verbal hate towards a man for whom most couldn’t carry his coat. I find that the majority of the politicians who voice condemnation of Trump are weak, leftist and are failing their nations which begs the argument that envy and a realisation of incompetence is largely their reasons for their dislike of a great president.
Another great piece Hannes. I share your thoughts along with the fact I have lost many friends along the way but I care not, not even in the slightest, since I would rather be on the side of good and truth than that of evil. It goes without saying that the resentment by political opponents and MSM, are simply because the first non-politician in USA history has burst onto the political arena of the worlds most powerful country,10 years ago, and is single-handedly thwarting the might of the left wing global agenda to which they subscribe. They reel in shock and horror as he slowly dismantles their desires, this time more vigorously than the first term, and has left the Democrats in disarray, not quite knowing how to make the next move. Because Trump plays 5D chess and keeps them guessing. It is an amazing art he possesses and a pleasure to observe the business acumen the man has whilst appearing to his opponents as a buffoon. Hilarious! Go MAGA!
Thanks Old Pal! And pleased we’re still chums after all these years. I actually think between Trump and Covid, my life has become less complicated in terms of the people I interact with.
I totally agree you Hannes. TDS was alive and well in Australia with our Marxist Labour leaders calling Trump all sorts of names. In response now, he won’t even have anything to do with Albanese.
I kept on telling people to look at Trump’s family. That said it all as to the quality of the man’s character.
I was in South Africa when Trump was nearly assassinated and overheard a white man at a Country Club say that he was sorry that they missed. I took him to task and he scurried away – I wonder what he is thinking now?
Yes Steve, I also had people around me lamenting the fact the gunman missed the kill. I struggled to remain civil in dealing with these people. And yes look at his children and grandchildren and compare them to Biden’s or Obama’s.
Very well and accurately stated!
Spot on, Hannes. Despite many detractors around me, I remain steadfastly supportive of what DJT has DONE, not just spoken about, as many of his predecessors did. I firmly believe he’s one of the best, if not, THE best US president ever. I already know that many strongly oppose my opinion, but look at the facts – they speak for themselves.
Hannes: I live next door to the USA, (Canada), and you would not believe how strong the Anti-Trump movement is in this country. It is well sunk in withing my own blood family, in the semi-Pentacostal church we attend and the Sunday night “Life Group” we are members of. Too much of this country has lived on handouts from various Liberal Governments and Liberal/New Democrat “Left Thinking” leadership, in every position of power and authority, you care to name.THEY cannot understand that Donald IS NOT A CAREER Business Person and looks at ALL situations very differently than ANY elected official you can name. The only person in Canada with their head screwed on conservatively and correctly, is Danielle Smith, the provincial Premier of Alberta.
Thank you for the sincere and excellent post. I believe what you describe is Trump Derangement Syndrome. The cure rate is unknown.
A mirror image of my own experiences. I would not change a single word of your article. Nothing to add nor take away. 😎😎😎