Saturday Night Live constructed a near perfect skit that highlighted Donald Trump’s Twitter usage. But it did much more than that when one understood the subliminal messaging that was more profound than the script itself.
Donald Trump Twitter usage says much more than meets the eye
The Saturday Night Live skit used skillful writing and subliminal context as it exposed Trump in an amusing but disturbing light that should bother us all.
The skit starts with a 16-year-old high schooler sending out a tweet. Trump is attending a national security briefing. He retweets the kid because he said the student’s bio included his catchphrase, ‘Make America great again.’
The national security briefers tried to get Trump’s attention. Kellyanne Conway explains to the briefers that Trump’s Twitter usage is a deflection for the media. It distracts them from more important stories like Trump’s conflicts of interest and the scary people in his cabinet.
“I promise. I am done tweeting,” Trump said. “I am ready to buckle down and get to work.”
Two minutes go by, and he starts tweeting again. This time he retweets a user whose profile used a typical ethnic stereotype.
Once again the national security officers attempt to get him to start working with the briefing. He went off on a tangent.
“I was elected twenty-five days ago,” Trump said. “And already unemployment is at a nine-year low. Millions and millions of people have healthcare. And Osama Bin Laden is dead.”
Trump then promised his undivided attention. This time it lasted ten seconds.
Trump next retweeted a guy who said Liberalism is a mental disorder. The exasperated national security briefers continue to urge Trump to get busy. When one of them pointed out that Trump will become president in a few weeks, they both exhibit the pain of knowing that his ascent to the presidency is real.
“Sorry,” one of the briefers said.”I just hadn’t heard that put in weeks before.”
Trump said he was ready to start. But to have his briefing, Steve Bannon must be at his side. Not Rince Priebus, but Steve Bannon.
The inferences are clear. America elected an immature person, with a proclivity for stereotypes. He is narcissistic and is easily triggered by that narcissism. His attention span is non-existent. He is willing to take credit for things he never did. He is a liar who uses deflection to prevent coverage of his more severe sins. He depends on others for direction on substantive issues.