Would you rather meet a senator or a superstar? I’ll give you some time to think.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump is running for president. The businessman, author and entertainer has invaded our televisions and social networks with bombastic speeches and giant ideas.
While it may seem laughable to a local construction worker to build “a wall across the southern border” of the U.S. like Trump’s campaign website suggests, Trump does have supporters out there willing to lay down a few bricks.
Most recent polls put Trump in the lead for the Republican nomination at 29 percent currently. This has Democrats and Republicans alike scratching their heads, trying to understand why this man is so popular among a variety of people.
The answer is simple yet horribly cliché. Trump is a celebrity.
It’s not a first in U.S. history, but to the newest generation of voters, the concept is a novelty. From what I’ve seen, he’s able to capture the attention of young, naive voters with brash ideas and charisma.
While previous presidents may have left the youth disappointed with lack of action on the issues they care about, Trump fills them with false hope by boasting his forcefulness. Ergo, yes, Trump is a man who accomplished many of his goals throughout his career; but don’t vote only for the ability to reach a goal, vote for the goal.
Still, there are more than just college students who recognize Trump from their Twitter feeds; he has been in the public eye since the 70s. Anyone from that era has since been exposed to hundreds of articles, interviews and videos regarding his life. It’s as if they know him personally and can connect to him.
After all, we are constantly reminding ourselves that celebrities are just regular people and believing that politicians are not.
Although we may hate to admit it, Trump is an influential figure just like all celebrities, regardless of his presidential candidacy.
So, would you rather meet a senator or a superstar? Your answer doesn’t necessarily define your political views, but your next response should be a consensus of everyone living in the 21st century.
Which one has more power?