"Fight! Fight! Fight!"
- Edward Johnson
- Apr 28
- 17 min read
Updated: May 6
President Trump re-entered the White House this winter following a historic victory. He is one of two to ever have managed the feat, serving non-consecutive terms as the highest office holder of the United States. Yet, perhaps more exceptional is his road back to the White House, requiring a rebuilding of burned bridges with the electorate and the Republican Party. His initial rise was a surprise, sending shockwaves through Washington DC. His ability to do it again is unprecedented in American history. This is the story of business mogul, showman, commentator, and President Donald J. Trump.
Beginnings
Few expected his presidential bid. But in June 2015, descending an escalator at his own Trump Tower in New York City, to the backdrop of thousands of enthusiastic supporters he declared his presidential bid. With sufficient funds and a Washington-outsider status Mr Trump, who had long floated the idea of running for president, hoped to gain traction from disillusioned voters, eschewed from politics. The crowd size confused people. He had been a marginal candidate in hypothetical polling, lucky to get anything close to 5% of those surveyed. Established political circles did not worry, his vie for the presidency seemed more like a marketing exercise than a serious political campaign.
The 2016 Republican primary election was the most saturated field in American history. Voters would fragment toward different candidates instead of coalescing around a single person. Heavy names such as Florida Governor Jeb Bush, Ohio Governor John Kasich, and Senator Ted Cruz included Mr Trump's competition. These were well established and respected candidates seen as frontrunners for the Republican presidential nomination. Yet, facing the bluntness of president-aspirant Trump they faltered. The businessman celebrity had no issue in attacking the Obama Administration and then turning around and directing scathing criticism toward the GOP, accusing it of weakness and inability.
“Even though I’m a Republican and I’m obviously voting that way, I’m very disappointed in the Republicans in the House. There’s weakness there. Donald just says it like it is. I love it,” then-54 year old New Hampshire resident Julie Pagliarulo stated.
His directness resonated with the many unhappy Republicans facing an industrial decline and perceived loss of the American dream. For many, the promise of change made by President Barack Obama had simply not materialised. A shift was needed and an anti-establishment candidate like Mr Trump proved appealing, his business record and promise of putting "America First," to an America felt left behind, was music to the ears of those yearning for betterment. He surged. At 11% Mr Trump was equal with Senator Marco Rubio. By the end of July he was the clear frontrunner, gaining well over 25% in some polls. However, it had historically not been uncommon for candidates to surge and then sharply decline into irrelevancy.
"Voters will be looking for more from him than the bombastic campaign he has offered so far. They will be looking for a serious presidential candidate, and they won’t find one," Nate Cohn wrote for the New York Times, dismissing Mr Trump's surge as media attention.
Mr Cohn wrote his article after Mr Trump had seemingly attacked veteran Senator John McCain for being captured in Vietnam. The journalist emphasised the liberal elements of Mr Trump's past, his donations to Democrats including Hillary R. Clinton and "very pro-choice" stance, as well as how other candidates would ruthlessly exploit this to their advantage.
"He is self-evidently unelectable in a general election, combining terrible poll numbers with an unpresidential persona," Mr Cohn confidently wrote, believing the polls to merely be a fluke.
Among the businessman's pledges was the construction of a physical wall between the United States and Mexico to quell immigration, with the intent of having the Mexican government pay for it. Moreover, China hawkishness and the American trade deficit laid at the forefront of Mr Trump’s agenda. He spoke of the "real unemployment" being "anywhere from 18 to 20%. Don’t believe the 5.6. Don’t believe it." Mr Trump opposed the so-called Obamacare and worried about government waste.
In the first primary debate among Republican presidential-hopefuls Mr Trump was centre-stage. One moderator of the Fox News debate declared "We don't want to make it the Donald Trump show," continuing "But it is." During the debate the celebrity candidate defended his controversial statements that had gained widespread condemnation; keeping a third-party bid open, reiterating that the Mexican government was actively sending its most undesirable citizens to the United States, and claiming that his derogatory statements directed at women were "only" meant for Rosie O'Donnell, whom he had famously quarrelled with.
"What I say is what I say," Mr Trump said during the debate, framing his lack of correctness as a benefit.
The pre-debate surge that the Trump Campaign enjoyed did not wane, because overall Mr Trump's core base found him to have performed best. Only Senator Marco Rubio, promising a generational leadership shift, outshone the celebrity. However, the Trump Campaign failed to impress those not already supporting the business mogul, trailing Senator Rubio, Senator Ted Cruz, and neurosurgeon Ben Carson in improving their image. Yet, vitally Mr Trump did not tarnish his image, keeping his political options open, even making minor headway. Moreover, Governor Jeb Bush was lacklustre, failing to build momentum. Lastly, the Republican field did not narrow, none of the candidates suffered a campaign-ending misstep. Therefore, Mr Trump managed to remain the largest candidate, giving him more media attention and a platform to be heard.
On the other side of politics, within the Democratic Party's primary, front runner Hillary R. Clinton condemned Mr Trump for comments he made after the debate about host Megyn Kelly. She had pressed the candidate on comments referring to women as “fat pigs, dogs, slobs, and disgusting animals.” In response, in an interview with CNN, Mr Trump stated she had “Blood coming out of her wherever.” Madam Clinton called the statement worrying, but focused on Senator Rubio's absolute anti-abortion stance during the debate. Within conservative circles outrage was sparked and Mr Trump was disinvited from a major Republican event. Polling for the Trump Campaign held steady, even expanding its lead in September.
Ahead of the second primary debate Mr Trump walked on stage in Dallas, Texas, to the cheer of thousands of supporters, defying traditional campaign norms. Usually, candidates prepare for debates behind closed doors out of the public eye. Not Mr Trump, he remained busy on the campaign trail deflecting that the other’s preparation and presumed focus on attacking him would be "Whatever." Intervals of standing ovations and chants of "USA! USA!" marked the packed rally at a stadium with 20 000 seats. Only the highest platform was unfilled.
By 2016, Mr Trump was polling steadily in the lead, with support ranging from the high 30s to the low 40s. Nearing the primaries, the threat Mr Trump posed to the other candidates became clear. The thought that he might even win the nomination was becoming a reality for some echelons of the Republican Party. In the Iowa Caucus held at the beginning of February, Senator Cruz outperformed expectations. He came first, some 3% ahead of the business mogul, with Senator Rubio within striking distance of Mr Trump. Governor Bush had fallen from grace, receiving an insignificant 2.8% of the Iowan vote. In New Hampshire - mere days later - the Trump Campaign claimed triumphant victory. With about 35% of the vote, Mr Trump held more than a double digit lead over the second place candidate.
The pack started thinning; with too little support, candidates dropped out. Governor Bush suspended his bid, Ben Carson dropped out after Super Tuesday, and Senator Rubio followed. Senator Cruz defined the primary as a race between himself and Mr Trump, hoping to capitalise on anti-Trump sentiment. However, following comments by former Speaker of the House John Boehner describing Mr Cruz as "Lucifer in the flesh," the Cruz Campaign definitively lost the late-stage Indiana primary. The loss constituted a suspension. Governor Kasich was next. Mr Trump, the long-shot candidate with an "unpresidential persona," was now the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party. Nearly a month later, Madam Clinton became the Democrats' presumptive nominee.
The Campaign
Mr Trump had chosen Governor Michael R. Pence of Indiana to be his running-mate. Governor Pence represented a bridge toward conservative circles disengaged from the MAGA movement. The Trump Campaign hoped to contrast the nominee's outsider status with the experience and respectability of a governor with strong conservative ties. Madam Clinton selected Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia as her running-mate. As a swing-state senator he could build bridges with much needed voters, but he faced criticism for not being progressive enough. Yet, the Clinton Campaign was determined it would win, otherwise it might have chosen a candidate with a broader appeal. Mr Trump was an integral part of the campaign strategy - progressives would vote to stop the Trump Campaign no matter the Democratic ticket.
Unfettered, Mr Trump questioned Madam Clinton's private emails. Essentially, Madam Clinton had used a private email in an official capacity and official correspondence was required to be archived by federal law. However, some 30,000 emails were not archived. Madam Clinton maintained that these, representing roughly half of her email correspondence as Secretary of State, were personal and thereby not covered by archiving requirements. An FBI investigation concluded that while there was "potential evidence" for breach of conduct "no reasonable prosecutor would bring such a case." Undeterred, Mr Trump called on Russia to hack Madam Clinton and publish her emails.
“I think the secretary of state is right, the American people are sick and tired about hearing about your damn emails,” Senator Sanders had stated during a Democratic primary debate.
In the first presidential debate which broke viewer-records, Madam Clinton attacked Mr Trump for calling climate change a "Chinese hoax" and questioning President Obama's nationality. Pressed on releasing his tax returns, Mr Trump responded he would do so if Madam Clinton released her emails. She acknowledged the "mistake" of using a personal email account and took responsibility for it. According to post-debate polling Madam Clinton won.
In a resurfaced video showing Mr Trump speaking about women, he boasted that he could get away with "anything.” An uproar within the Republican Party followed. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan withdrew an invitation for Mr Trump to appear alongside him at a rally in Wisconsin. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell issued a statement calling the comments regrettable, opening for Republican senators to disavow from the presidential nominee if he did not apologise. Some lawmakers called on Mr Trump to step down as the nominee. Facing the extraordinary pressure from Republicans, Mr Trump did apologise.
“Anyone who knows me knows these words don’t reflect who I am. I said it, I was wrong, and I apologize,” Mr Trump said.
In the last presidential debate the presidential contenders sparred over issues relating to abortion, conceding defeat on Election Day, the Clinton Foundation and more. Regarding abortion, Madam Clinton clearly outlined her support for the Supreme Court ruling Roe v. Wade, codifying abortion access across the United States. On the other hand, Mr Trump remained vague, stating his pro-life stance. He made clear that he would appoint pro-life judges and that these would naturally overturn the ruling, making it an issue for states once more. Moreover, Mr Trump refused to clarify whether he would concede if defeated on Election Day, after previously suggesting widespread voter fraud. Mr Pence had priorly declared that he personally would accept the result. Lastly, Madam Clinton denied favourable treatment toward donors of the Clinton Foundation during her time as Secretary of State. Mr Trump questioned the ethics of the organisation which had accepted funds from Saudi Arabia and Qatar, referring to their maltreatment of people. Madam Clinton is meant to have won the debate according to a Gallup poll, 60% to 31% overall.
Trump won. He thrashed the so-called Blue Wall, reliably held by Democrats for decades, comprising Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Yet, Michigan, a state former President Obama had won with nearly 60% of the vote in 2008, was the true surprise. The Democrats had failed to protect their backbone. Sweeping victories in Florida, Iowa, and Ohio, all formerly Democratic, strengthened Mr Trump's win. In the Electoral College the Trump Campaign had margins, some 306 to Madam Clinton's 226 electors. Despite his perceived shortcomings in the debates, media relations, and strictly "unpresidential persona," Mr Trump had won. Officially he was President-elect Trump. Democrats scrambled to understand their defeat. Yet, simply, the promise of change from an incumbent party at the helm for roughly the past decade, seemed insincere to the Obama core which had voted precisely for change. Many wanted change and Mr Trump offered a staunch change compared with Madam Clinton.
"The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer," President Trump remarked in his inaugural address.
This Presidency
"This American carnage stops right here and stops right now," President Trump said, referring to an American decline.
The day after President Trump’s inauguration, protesters across the globe gathered to oppose President Trump. In Chicago, initial estimates of attendees were so surpassed that the event needed to be cancelled out of safety concerns. In New York City Fifth Avenue, beside Central Park, became “a river of pink hats" and downtown Los Angeles faced a crowd half a kilometer long down several streets before even formally gathering. Feminist Gloria Steinem, actress Scarlett Johansson, and film director Michael Moore attended the Washington DC march, which one estimate asserted more people attended than the inauguration. The march-goers overcrowded the metro, bringing the public transit system to a halt. An organised opposition to the Trump Administration had rebelled, on its first full day in office.
Then, after a few years at the helm of the United States, the pandemic struck. The United States alongside the world went into lockdown. The economic consequences were profound; unemployment ballooned, the stock market crashed, and GDP contracted. Mr Trump had already been facing the lowest approval rating of any president in modern history, yet the economic circumstances paired with a tumultuous government response alienated swaths of the electorate. An enormous death toll, in the hundreds of thousands, served as the testimony to the very real human price unwillingly paid. Some of Mr Trump's comments, especially those related with potentially using disinfectants to treat Covid-19, sparking outcry in the medical community, would have been received as unserious by a population facing sacrifices.
An Incumbent Outsider
"Charlottesville, Virginia, is home to the author of one of the great documents in human history. We know it by heart: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,"" former Vice President Joseph R. Biden began his first presidential election advertisement.
Proclaiming that America was in a "battle for the soul of this nation" Mr Biden presented himself against Mr Trump. He was ready to defend the idea of America against the threat he perceived Mr Trump posed. It marked the beginning of a successful primary campaign leading Mr Biden to the nomination for the presidency by the Democratic Party. Senator Kamala Harris of California was his running-mate. They were the alternative to the Trump-Pence Administration. They stood as the alternative to a historically unpopular president. They stood as the change candidates, bearing the promise of better for an America that once again felt left behind.
In the first presidential debate of the election cycle the coronavirus dominated, leaving the president to defend the 200,000 American deaths at the time and a response the public widely disagreed with. Attacked by President Trump, who suggested the pandemic response would have been worse under a Biden Administration, Mr Biden directed a rhetorical question toward the cameras, thereby directly to the electorate, asking if Mr Trump could be believable considering the unpopularity of his own administration's response. Moreover, the debate covered topics such as the death of George Floyd sparking conversations and protests about institutional racism and police violence in the United States, climate change, and Mr Biden distancing himself from Senator Bernie Sanders' healthcare beliefs. Lastly, President Trump claimed to have done more in his presidency than Mr Biden had accomplished in a lifetime of public service as Senator of Delaware. According to polling, former Vice President Biden won the debate.
It was during this campaign that Mr Trump increased his rhetoric about voter fraud. At a Nevada rally before the first debate, Mr Trump baselessly claimed that "The Democrats are trying to rig this election because that’s the only way they’re going to win." He had directed scathing criticism toward mail-in ballots, suggesting Democrats tampered with them, despite himself having requested a mail-in ballot. The questioning of election integrity worked to undermine faith in the democratic process. Others had previously objected to election results but such efforts had been isolated and fringe. President Trump outright said the Democratic Party would change the result. It echoed President Trump's assertion of winning the popular vote in the 2016 presidential election, despite official government statistics reflecting a clear loss.
President-elect Biden won. President Trump refused to concede, citing voting irregularities and fraud. Within the Republican Party fragments congratulated Mr Biden and Madam Harris while some upheld Mr Trump's right to question the result. While President Trump was fully within his right to present legal challenges toward the vote count, as any citizen could without justification, it was the greatest democratic norm-breaking action of any modern president since the post-war era. It's standard to concede an election timely, quickly, once you have lost. Usually, the period between Election Day and Inauguration Day is marked by the peaceful transfer of power, allowing the incoming administration time to understand important matters regarding classified national security, foreign relations, and more. Mr Trump refused to cooperate asserting that the election had been “stolen.” The peaceful transfer of power will generally be roughly 3 months. President-elect Biden got 13 days.
"Just happened to have found another 4000 ballots from Fulton County. Here we go!" Mr Trump tweeted on 6 January 2021.
On noon 6 January 2021, the day on which the election was certified, President Trump started a speech in which he stated "we will never concede" and encouraged his supporters to "peacefully and patriotically" march to Capitol Hill and "make your voices heard." Roughly an hour later a crowd swelled past police barriers at the Capitol. The crowd bore flags and a makeshift gallows, chanting "Fight for Trump." Mere minutes later, Mr Trump ended his speech, warning listeners that if they did not "fight like hell" they would no longer have a country. The crowd breached Capitol Hill and a police officer declared the proceedings a riot. Vice President Pence was swiftly removed from the certification session. Senator Mitt Romney was informed of the situation and ran toward safety. The mob stood beneath him, searching through the chambers. Mr Pence was a mere 30 metres from the mob. Some lawmakers remained on the Senate floor. Speaker of the House Madam Pelosi had barricaded herself into a conference room, hiding underneath a table, while rioters attempted to enter.
"Mike Pence didn't have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution, giving States a chance to certify a corrected set of facts, not the fraudulent or inaccurate ones which they were asked to previously certify. USA demands the truth!" President Trump tweeted.
Members of the House of Representatives were told to be prepared with tear gas masks. They were called back into session in hopes of continuing the count. Soon thereafter they were informed to hide under chairs if necessary. One lawmaker sent a message to his family, reminding them of his love. Another was seen by the rioters, a committee chairman. A gunshot rippled through the air, fired by a police officer. Trapped lawmakers removed their congressional pins. During the evening, President Trump posted a video urging rioters to go home. He later referred to the rioters as "great patriots."
"I am asking for everyone at the U.S. Capitol to remain peaceful. No violence! Remember, WE are the Party of Law & Order – respect the Law and our great men and women in Blue. Thank you!" Mr Trump tweeted.
This effort to thwart a free and fair election failed. President Biden and Vice President Harris would be inaugurated according to schedule. President Trump would concede before the inauguration, although chose not to attend in another norm-breaking move, while Vice President Pence began distancing himself from the president. This riot had chanted for the harm of politicians and the overturning of an election, as well as broken into the highest democratic institutions of the United States. Lawmakers suited in tear gas masks, respected senators running down hallways to safety, and messages sent as a possible goodbye had marked this day. Whether this was or was not the intention of President Trump it, nevertheless, was a direct, vicious, attack on democracy. Words, not violence.
A Re-Run
Facing legal troubles, former President Trump announced his re-election bid for a non-consecutive second term, something only once achieved before. The Republican Party had experienced an underwhelming mid-term election result; many Trump-endorsed 2020 election-deniers had lost. Mr Trump painted his campaign as a virtuous and sacrificial endeavour aimed at solving a "rigged and corrupt system." Despite his loss, Mr Trump remained influential within the Republican Party apparatus, although Governor Ronald DeSantis of Florida presented a real threat in polling.
"In the end, they're not coming after me. They're coming after you — and I'm just standing in their way," former President Trump stated following his federal indictment.
Despite his historically unpopular presidency, Mr Trump was winning over President Biden in swing state polling. Mr Biden had become the new historically unpopular president, especially in regards to the inflationary economy and large-scale immigration at the Southern border. Mr Trump easily secured the Republican presidential nomination. In their debate, Mr Biden's age stood front and centre. Unable to counter Mr Trump and committing several missteps, including suggesting "We finally beat Medicare," a popular healthcare programme, President Biden faltered. Polling swayed in Mr Trump's favour as clips from the debate spread throughout the news cycle and Mr Biden trailed in every swing state.
"Fight! Fight! Fight!" former President Trump shouted after having been shot in the ear in an assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania. This led to Elon Musk's public endorsement of the former president.
President Biden willingly stepped aside on 21 July 2024. He had won the Democratic primary and could run, but his party, and his country, did not want him to run. He was simply too old for the American people. Madam Harris replaced him and Mr Trump and the Republicans initially struggled to criticise her. The Trump Campaign had largely tied itself to the unpopularity of the Biden presidency, leaving its attacks on the new Democratic candidate mostly void. The Democrats enjoyed an immediate surge in popularity, turning the tide in multiple swing states, enough to win the election. Madam Harris - a prosecutor - portrayed Mr Trump - a felon - as a person she would be used to dealing with, knowing "his type." Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota was her vice presidential running-mate.
"We are not going back!" Harris-Walz supporters would chant at rallies across the campaign trail.
With new energy, the Democrats hoped to infuse a sense of possibility, promising an "opportunity economy" with the ability of everyone to "not just get by but get ahead." Yet, she failed to distance herself from President Biden. Republicans had started tying his unpopularity with her, calling the Biden Administration the Biden-Harris Administration. Still, her own poll numbers remained above Mr Trump, although with slimmer margins. In the debate, Mr Trump accused immigrants of eating pets, such as dogs and cats. Madam Harris attacked Mr Trump for his abortion stance and the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Moreover, Mr Trump accused Democrats of "probably" inciting his assassination attempt through their rhetoric. Throughout the debate, Madam Harris often smirked, laughed, and shook her head toward Mr Trump, while he largely looked straight ahead, sometimes conveying disagreement through body language. Madam Harris won the debate according to polling.
President-elect Trump won, both in the Electoral College and the popular vote. He was the first Republican in 2 decades to have won the popular vote. Madam Harris conceded. President Biden announced the peaceful transfer of power. Madam Harris certified the election result on 6 January 2025. President Trump was inaugurated at noon 20 January 2025 with his running-mate Vice President J.D. Vance. President-elect Trump had become only the second person in history to serve two non-consecutive terms as President of the United States.
This is the story of a resurrection unlike anything the White House has witnessed. Mr Trump has come to profoundly reshape American politics, becoming a persona both despised and adored by the public. His ability to remain relevant and resonate has been defining. It's difficult to reason why Mr Trump possesses this ability, his communication skill from his time in entertainment could be a reason. Yet, simply, very simply, Mr Trump has been able to acknowledge an America that has felt forgotten. Those feeling unheard by politics and a system oftentimes facing gridlock have seen in Mr Trump what neither the Democrats or Republicans could seemingly provide; a promise of change, real change for the better. This is not the story of some business mogul, showman, and commentator that won the White House. This is a story of seeing a forgotten voter bloc. This is a story of listening to the undercurrent. This is a story of channeling discontent. This is the story of the President, Donald J. Trump.
