The Dawn of the Self-Promoting President

You will have to excuse me because I grew up in an era when ballplayers who hit a homerun trotted quickly around the bases, shook a few hands with their teammates, and ducked inconspicuously into the dugout.

Nobody epitomized that humble attitude more than Mickey Mantle, who clubbed 536 round-trippers during his illustrious Hall of Fame career. When asked why his homerun trot was so nondescript, the “Commerce Comet” replied, “After I hit a homerun, I had a habit of running the bases with my head down. I figured the pitcher already felt bad enough without me showing him up rounding the bases.”

Boy, do I miss “the Mick”… and players like him!

These days, players practice their homerun handshakes – or their touchdown dances – as if they had their own professional choreographers… and I wouldn’t be surprised if some of them don’t. Meanwhile, fundamentals such as sliding feet first, hitting the cut-off man, laying down a sacrifice bunt, and hitting behind the runner have gone the way of the dodo bird.

Other sports are just as bad. I am so tired of watching 7-foot-tall basketball players dunk the ball while barely leaving their feet… and then mug for the camera as if they just discovered the cure for cancer or did something really significant.

Give me a break!

The world of politics used to offer a bit of a reprieve from such nonsense. Sure, most politicians have massive egos, but until recently, the rule of thumb was to act humbly and let other people sing your praises. Tooting your own horn too loudly and too often was considered indiscreet at best and downright obnoxious at worst.

And then Donald J. Trump came to town.

I don’t have the time or space to go into all of President Trump’s public violations of this previously unwritten code of conduct, so I will limit myself to just the past week.

First, let me say that President Trump has a lot to crow about. The border is secure, the economy just exceeded expectations in the third quarter, and a few of his international peace deals seem to be holding (for now). And yes, inflation is down significantly from the double-digit nightmare we experienced under President Biden.

But, as he took a victory lap during his primetime address last week, President Trump lacked the grace and humility of Mickey Mantle, Stan Musial, or Lou Gehrig. Instead, he declared that “Over the past 11 months, we have brought more positive change to Washington than any Administration in American history.”

Really, Mr. President? More positive change than George Washington, who rejected a monarchy and then willingly abdicated his presidency after two terms, setting a precedent for future presidents to follow? More positive change than Abraham Lincoln, who preserved the union at the cost of his own life? More positive change than Theodore Roosevelt who busted the monopolies and advocated for child labor laws, a 40-hour work week, and safer working conditions for all Americans?

More positive change than Harry Truman, who ended World War II by dropping two atomic bombs on Japan… or Dwight Eisenhower, who instituted the Interstate Highway System… or Ronald Reagan, who ushered in a decade of economic prosperity fueled by a “peace dividend” paid for by winning the Cold War?

Kudos for your accomplishments, Mr. Trump, but you don’t always have to be the biggest and the best at everything. Nor do you need to have your name plastered on every government building in Washington, D.C.

Just this month, the United States Institute of Peace building, located at 2301 Constitution Avenue NW, was renamed the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace. The building was constructed in 2023 at a cost to taxpayers of $55 million, yet another example of government excess on steroids.

And just last week, the board of trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington added “Donald J. Trump” to its official name. Comically, President Trump said that he was both honored and surprised by the supposedly unanimous decision, even though he appointed every member of the board and chairs it himself.

Unfortunately, word has since leaked out that at least one board member tried to dissent during the conference call, but her phone was quickly muted. And how could it have been a surprise when the letters to spell “Donald J. Trump” were apparently already ordered so they could be installed the very next day?

Oh well, at least President Trump’s name is not (yet) on the soon-to-be built Washington Commanders Stadium… although White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said that it would be a “beautiful name” for the proposed $3.7 billion, 65,000-seat arena to be constructed on the site of the former RFK Stadium.

And at least President Trump’s image is not (yet) on one of the new coins due to be produced by the U.S. Mint in 2026, although there is talk of a $1 Trump coin similar to the one minted in 1925 to mark America’s 150th birthday that featured George Washington and Calvin Coolidge. That was the only time in U.S. history that a sitting president was so honored… and I doubt “Silent Cal” was very happy about it.

But even if President Trump doesn’t get his face engraved on some U.S. currency, he can console himself with the fact that his likeness already adorns the Trump Gold Visa Card being sold to rich foreigners wishing to emigrate to America. And yes, his signature was already on the stimulus checks sent out by the IRS in 2020, and his name will forever be associated with the self-named Trump Accounts for children born in the years 2025-2028.

What could possibly be next? Changing the District of Columbia to the District of Trump… or renaming the White House to the Trump House and repainting it a gaudy gold to match one of his former casinos?

I’m only 66, but I don’t remember a president who deserved more kudos – or who produced more self-congratulatory and cringeworthy moments – than Donald J. Trump.

Let me leave you with a quote that has been attributed to both Harry Truman and Ronald Reagan, as well as an applicable Bible passage. First, the quote.

“It is amazing what can be accomplished when you don’t care who gets the credit.”

And now, the Bible passage.

“And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, so that in due time He may exalt you.” I Peter 5:5b-6 (BSB)

Editor’s Note: No sooner had I finished writing this article, but the following item came across my newsfeed: “President Trump announced plans to build a new fleet of Navy battleships called the ‘Trump class,’ starting with two ships he described as the largest battleships ever constructed.”

Good grief, when and where will it ever end?