Several years of President Trump’s persona on parade, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s puzzled. Yes… his base stays attracted to him. But why?
I’ve written about his scowling demeaner. His lashing-out tendencies. Even when he smiles… what do you think?
His infrequent smile looks a bit off, a bit forced. It’s not a very jubilant smile.
Nothing against car dealers, but that picture takes me back, several decades, to when I got my first job with an automotive trade magazine. That’s the sort of smile I got when I asked a Los Angeles car dealer if he was interested in advertising in our publication.
The guy had a smile like President Trump’s, but I wasn’t getting good vibes.
That may have been the first time I started thinking about peoples’ persona, which helped a lot when I got into the perception business… public relations. I had to factor things like corporate executives’ forced, rather evil, maybe insincere smiles — and other tendencies — into my decisions. Could I put them in front of the media?
Even though he’s held the highest office in the land for the past four years, I just don’t know. That persona of his? I think I would have gone back to the drawing board. I would have taken a pass on this guy… who would become POTUS 45.
Looking at that picture, what do you think? If he was trying to sell you something… like a border wall? Three days and two nights in the Lincoln bedroom… with continental breakfast, included? Aged Trump steaks, from his private reserve?
Looking at that face, with that smile, would you go for any of those choices?
Would you buy a used sedan or station wagon from the guy?
Harvey Radin is former senior vice president in charge of corporate communications and media relations, Bank of America Western Region. He makes his home in Redwood City, CA.