I've long made a point of trying to understand how Trump won the 2016 election, a person who was so manifestly unfit, and in over his head for the office of president. His crass narcissism, inability to admit any mistake or misstep, penchant for gross hyperbole, lack of any sort of understanding and even basic preparedness in dealing with most aspects of public policy should have made him a non-viable candidate. Yet he won. So here's what I learned: politics trumps personality.
Despite his severe limitations, he also did things which no other politician on the right had been able to do. He won over important sections of the working class AND renounced US foreign interventionism. Trump defends and is the standard bearer of a unique brand of conservatism in the US, a kind of right-wing populism seen in Europe. His supporters are willing to look past his shameful and embarrassing behaviour because of the policies that he champions.
But here's the rub: in the world of Covid-19 politicians are being judged by their ability to defend public, regardless of politics. It's why Trudeau, Legault, Ford, Horgan, etc. all have sky high approval ratings, despite their vast idealogical differences. They're seen as looking out for their citizens best interest. On the other hand, politicians who haven't been viewed as responsive are not doing as well in polling, such as Boris Johnson or Shinzo Abe.
Trump has been presented a chance to lead, as all leaders have. Yet he continues his shameful behaviour. And it is shameful. Why on Earth do his supporters think it is a good idea to regularly publicly over-ride and contradict the country's top health experts? Is there a single, other country in the world where this is happening? Why on Earth would it be a good idea to hold daily two hour press conferences where he boasts about how wonderful and super and fantastic everything he does is, and run campaign advertisements? Why on Earth is he encouraging people congregating in large public gatherings, deliberately not social distancing or wearing masks. IN THE MIDDLE OF A PANDEMIC.
So yes, the United States is proving its exceptionalism after all in this crisis. It is proving that politics trumps personality.