Tom Nichols: Donald Trump Would Be “George Washington’s Nightmare” | Amanpour and Company
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- Опубліковано 11 жов 2024
- Less than a month before the U.S. election, the candidates are in the final stretch of the campaign. As the polls get tighter in critical swing states, The Atlantic has officially endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president. In his latest piece for the magazine, Tom Nichols tells readers why he believes that re-electing Donald Trump would be founding father George Washington’s worst nightmare. He joins Hari Sreenivasan to discuss.
Originally aired on October 10, 2024
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Amanpour and Company features wide-ranging, in-depth conversations with global thought leaders and cultural influencers on the issues and trends impacting the world each day, from politics, business and technology to arts, science and sports. Christiane Amanpour leads the conversation on global and domestic news from London with contributions by prominent journalists Walter Isaacson, Michel Martin, Alicia Menendez and Hari Sreenivasan from the Tisch WNET Studios at Lincoln Center in New York City.
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Thank you, Tom. You are great.
There are so many people of integrity & decency in USA. Why is DT seen by anyone as decent? This election is so important & so many wonderful people could be running but we have Trump 🙈
I think the guest explained that people don’t see Trump as decent but as someone who will punish people they think need punishing (because they have it too good).
@@hklinker thank you!
He's not attracting people who're looking for integrity or decency. He attracts
- the angry. And millions have good reason to be angry, and the politicians have been deflecting that for a long time, or out and out ignoring that.
- the any means to an end religious, for overturning Roe v Wade.
- the monied. He's like putty in their hands, for the low price of stroking his ego.
Decent men ran before. The Democrats smeared them to win. Perhaps you can see why one might tire of that, and eventually vote for someone who would fight back.
Americans equate wealth with goodness. They can’t believe a rich person could be evil.
Let's be frank. If the US people elect D Trump next month, consciously or unwittingly they will have decided to fundamentally change what the United States is, has stood for, and the country's role on the world stage.
💯
But they listen to Fox and others the same as it and are deceived. I don't understand how Christians can be deceived by djt. His "fruits of the spirit" are totally opposite of what The Holy Bible states is fruits of the Holy Spirit. Djt has said he never asked God for forgiveness. This blasphemes everything in the Bible. It is sad. Jesus said revenge is God's not djt. May God have mercy on us all.
Let's be honest here. What the Democrats did by selecting Kamala for Americans without a primary voted on by the citizens is just as bad as storming the Capitol. The Democratic Elite colluded with wealthy donors to force Biden out and install Kamala as the candidate. They thought they couldn't get away with it because Trump wasn't too popular beyond his base. That act isn't too far from what would happen in a country that the US criticizes. Look past your nose. We are already experiencing changes fundamentally that we must fight for.
while those are all laudable goals, they're really going to be plunging america into the worst facets of what america is and always was. it would be nice to see a group of folks who want to turn america towards the better parts of what it is and could be; to actually realise the promise of its founding documents. out here in the non-america parts of the world, that's what we'd all really like to see for americans and the rest of us, too.
What would that be?
Donald Trump is easily in the top 3 best Russian presidents.
After 8 years Still spinning the Russia Russia Russia Hoax!
Scamala Harris and Tampon Tim are controlled by China 😊
I would call him more putins vice president.
@@goarmysleepinthemud. Putin's patsy.
"Putin's gimp."
Stole that from Rick Wilson, but it's pretty accurate for anyone who watched Donald humiliate himself and the country at Helsinki in 2018. The soccer ball Putin gave him (in front of the world) was symbolic of the true power dynamic. Ugh.
Tom Nichol's insights always bring lucidity to the conversation. As he notes, this election will tell us a lot about who we are as a nation.
@@kwilliams1958 Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
@@fibhufky beauty, not insight or lucidity
@walterbo7687 who we are as a nation, is not unlike the perception of beauty.
@@fibhufky perception is not factual. It's fiction.
@walterbo7687 who we are as a nation, is fiction because it's just a perception in the eye of the beholder. That's my whole point.
Thank you Tom. Great read.
Sorry to say it but I think this is who we are. It’s who we have been for some time and we should probably admit that already 😔
In my opinion, (the, THIS aspect, of "who we are" in which you referred to) is the political foundation that, (Comrade Trump & Associates) have based their entire strategy on in order to implement their agenda, and inevitably achieve their goal of being in the ultimate position of authority,
(i.e. exploiting their GOP constituents by pandering to their base-instincts, enabling their dark-side, and assuaging their guilt).
(Dictatorship 101)
Yes, poverty does have that effect, it pisses people off.
😞
@@cd129 The full on class warfare attack, would take a full on response.
But right now, life in the US is so complex, that the public is stunned, kept busy with the blitz of fiscal attack. The regulatory floor dropped away, no market integrity nor safety. Both job and product markets.
Project 2025 will make that so visible as to be indisputable. Along with stripping away what's left of the democracy facade.
Unfortunately, I think you are right. This is who America has become. Consider that the race for the presidency is tied is an indication that half or nearly half of Americans find D Trump acceptable.
Finally someone who doesn't say: "this is not who we are", but the more apt "then this is who we probably are"
Good interview Hari. Thanks for sharing your insights Tom.
"Donald Trump would be George Washington's 'worst nightmare'"?!....George Washington led a violent rebellion against a tyrannical, uncaring central government.
Tom Nichols is an confused Idiot! His conservatives are "doomsday" conspiracy theory is funny! He hasn't a CLUE what conservatives really think, and are about!
It's rather Hilarious!
This guy gave a very sober, well articulated and intelligent opinion of things, a very serious warning as to how humanity is declining. Even when Trump loses, much erosion and damage has begun. I hope the US gets a second wind, the World needs a good leader right now.
Unfortunately, you are correct.
"A good leader" doesn't fund genocide.
@@buzoff4642 you mean the immigrants present in the country like Trump want. Yeah, I agree
@@buzoff4642 no, he commit it, like Putin
We are rapidly losing the middle class. The growing divide between the rich and the 'aspiring rich' and the working class is astounding. Blue-collar wages have been stagnating for years to the point where people working two decent jobs can't afford rent. It makes me think of my college study of Das Kapital. Marx was an evil genius; he predicted everything so accurately, it's frightening.
richard wolff and robert reich
Well, I don't know why he was evil. He was just pointing stuff out, to be fair.
@@patriciapearson7286 He instigated the destruction of the existing world in pursuit of a utopian dream, leading to death and suffering for millions.
@@patriciapearson7286 He instigated the des*truction of the existing world in pursuit of a utopian dream, leading to dea*th and su*ffering for millions.
The middle class is able to vote in elections, in order to correct what it might see as flaws in the economy. Right? What you described could have been avoided, correct?
People I once had regard for have erased that regard by their fealty to Trump. I see anyone backing Trump as being, at best, myopic and uninformed or, at worst, having deeply flawed character.
they were played for years by lies ,lies and more lies. For fifty years working class has been sinking and don knew how to manipulate them, really, just like hitler did
Yep! Every dump supporter I know are either hateful, delusional, or miserable.
You're exactly right! Only in the opposite!!
Do you have Any idea how Ridiculous you sound, claiming/preaching Dem's are "morally superior" to conservatives? ..lol
It's the Dem's that have deeply flawed character!
~Freedom or choice to murder your own offspring? Especially the day before it's born? You call that "upright"? "moral"? Bass-ackwards morals! Heck even the animals give their life to Protect their own offspring!
If George Washington were alive today, Donald Trump wouldn’t be.
They'd have Mike Pence'd him.
Sounds like a threat. Reporting you.
@@imperialmotoring3789 sorry you were offended. no threat implied.
@@imperialmotoring3789 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 triggered
@@imperialmotoring3789Trump will be sentenced on November 26th. 😊
This man is so eloquently saying what should be obvious to everyone.
These last sentences should send a chill down everyone's spine.
only half the country and that's the problem.
Well said.
I immigrated to the US in 2007 and became a Citizen 3 years later. Europeans are very aware or the 3rd Reich and always looking out for signs. We also know what the US was like in the 1930s when it ALMOST allied with Hitler and had huge torchlit fascist rallies.. In 2016 I was so so shocked with what I had walked into, that my latent Multiple Sclerosis kicked in and my head and neck and scalp were ON FIRE for 6 weeks. I wouldn't be surprised if the US went full on NAZI because I have met many of them since 2007... One tiny snippet of what they said to me ...The said they wanted to machine gun Mexican children trying to swim the Rio Grande...and they MEAN IT !
A lot of the grievance is legitimate. The neoliberal economic policies implemented by both the Republicans and Democrats have resulted in the hollowing out the middle class and a rapidly growing population of working poor. Income and wealth inequality is stunning. Working people in the U.S. feel abandoned; and rightly so. They are disillusioned with democracy which they feel has failed them and are primed to embrace autocracy. The Democrats better work quickly and effectively (if they get a chance) to build America back from the bottom up and the middle out or our country is going to fall like a ripe plum into the lap of one kind of tyranny or another.
People need to understand what is neoliberalism and what it has done to the country.
Thank you for writing this! I came to the comments to do this myself! Tom has made these comments repeatedly and is blind to the effects of neoliberalism. Imagine thinking it’s only jealousy. So many are so gaslit and still believe the constant propaganda about how great it is in the US. Living outside the US for more than a decade really opened my eyes to the effects of neoliberalism.
You, in America, have Citizens United to thank for the legal INUNDATION of corporate $$$$$$$$$ into political campaigns. Such a bad idea. Like open carry in a bar. Trump, or someone like him, was only a question of time. In other democratic countries (yes, they DO exist outside of the US) this is illegal. Lying or promoting lies in the media would be called out for what it is, not disinformation, misspoke and other euphemisms. Unbridled capitalism, a "whatever the market will bear" has brought you Trump.
You are certainly correct in saying the grievance is legitimate and the working poor having a desire to embrace autocracy. What’s delusional is the working poor believing a wealthy conman, loser, and criminal will do anything but further widen that gap between them and wealthy under the disguise of autocracy. His supporters fears will become their reality as quick as Drump can say man, camera, woman, TV.
Except that neoliberalism includes three factors- free-market capitalism, deregulation, and reduction in government spending. That third component hasn't happened under either party for decades. Nichols' point is about the rise of grievance and resentment from Americans "who live comfortable lives." Not working people who feel abandoned.
You definitely don't accept that "this is who we are" when billionaires are behind it. You fight.
The fact that this election is "close" is an EMBARRASSMENT to our country!!!!!
I can no longer even listen to explanations of why Trump shouldn't be elected.
The Instant someone even remotely tries to defend him - I've placed them in the "idiot" category - and we're done talking.
Trumps response: "George Washington was so overrated 👌☝"
the US is an oligarchy swinging btwn 2 parties
but vote BLUE 🩵💙
VOTE RED ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
@@TRUMPWINS-m7r Have you watched the video? Just take a minute and listen to it before you knee-jerk.
Nah. I'm voting independent. TRUMP!
This certainly rings true! Keep that bell of freedom ringing, Tom and Christine and company!
I agree wholeheartedly with everything Nichols says. Unfortunately, not too many folks from the Maga crowd are going to be watching this video. Classic preaching to the choir.
True. But that doesn't mean journalists should be silent. It's not Nichols fault that Fox News is unlikely to have him on as a guest.
I'm ULTRA MAGA. Got a good laugh from this video. Is Tom a comedian or is he a TDS sufferer?
Thank you Tom. Thank you Tom
Great read thanks
He's got it right. I'm not surprised
Excellent and exceptional article. One for the ages. Hopefully should MAGA actually Google "Washington and Trump" they just might just come across this piece in The Atlantic.
2016: "ridiculous to compare trump to fascist leaders"
2024: "well.."
If Washington arose from his grave,he would kick the tar out of Trump.
Excellent analysis. Really well thought out and delivered.
Excellent final response, Tom, Excellent.
What about Washington's Dream from SNL ?
But how do you consider the Electoral College? Doesn't that need changing to reflect the true opinions of a majority of American's. Would that not be what democracy is?
That the founders didn't want a direct democracy is very telling. Here in California we have so many "measures", "propositions" and "initiatives" that it's hard to understand the ballot. We can even have opposing initiatives on the same ballot - and both can pass! What do you do then? Which one is the law? And many have produced so many budgetary earmarks that only 20% of our state's budget is still under control of the legislature, the rest is directed by these "direct democracy" mandates.
Best assessment I've heard. Thank you!
How many MAGA Republicans does it take to change a light bulb?
Trump just tells them he has fixed the light bulb and they sit there in the dark and applaud.
America, Beautiful 🌳🌷🌳
It’s safe to say that everyone in politics would be Washington’s nightmare
I disagree respectfully. From what I know of Washington as a historical figure. I think He would take the measure of a man and his motivation for seeking office, when it comes to modern politics
@@rickfry6031 l agree. A more measured, reasoned answer.
This man nailed it!
George Washington doesn't care anymore. But we do😂😂😂
Nothing funny to see here, comrade.
It's very funny Trump president 😂
Hard to imagine George Washington having Trump for dinner at Mount Vernon...
It astounds me that this gentleman has to remind us of what makes a leader. Not even a great leader, but simply a leader who has the basic qualities necessary to govern wisely. We know from history who the great leaders were and what made them great leaders. Why do millions in the United States of America not have a basic understanding of what has made our country great for almost 250 years? This is frightening and dangerous. And this hatred of immigrants being voiced by 45? 45's parents were immigrants. Two of his wives were immigrants. All Americans who are not native Americans had parents, grandparents, great grandparents, etc. who immigrated here. Don't they remember this? So this segment of our population are the ones who are destroying the very nation and values their ancestors fled to. Anyone who loves democracy and understands it and the values upon which our country was founded must reject autocracy with all the energy they can muster. Harris/Walz 2024!!
I wish we could ask Tom why so many in service, in the military and policing, back Trump, the aspiring authoritarian.
Because we need an adult to run this asylum.
@@fibhufkyNahhhh. A change agent perhaps. Trump is an adult? Naaahhhh.
@@pcopeland15 He was when he dealt with Soleimani. Unlike the current WH resident.
@@fibhufky At best, Trump's arrested development puts him at about 15 years old. Clear from his juvenile video.
The woke and corrupt 'top brass' in the military and the police usually support Biden/Harris type politicians. The rank-and-file 'grunts' and street cops almost all support Donald Trump.
He’s exactly right. We must vote country over party. Vote blue in 2024 ❤️🇺🇸
if you think trump is bad, get ready for president tucker.
Haha.
Nope.
"maga delenda est" - Quote of the YEAR
Yep , president Tucker of the New Soviet Russian State of Ukrain! That is what Tucky boy wants!, Putin probably already promised the big Don a Princedom!, ( wait til he finds out its Siberia)
Those personal flaws being enslaving humans.
A model parent against the usual bullying miscreants, who overcame them, in part, not permanently.
P.S , I mean RIGHT NOW!
Trump is Lincoln's foil.
There must never be a painting of donald trump placed on the wall of the Whitehouse. It must never be painted, and his execrable name blotted out of the record. His name and face besmirches the Presidency.
Americas nightmare on steroids vote blue end the hate and lies
😢lol..with what happened to him, he gotta be very careful now....And U should be very careful onnwhat you are saying...
I, for one, can appreciate a “journalist” who can get into my head and tell me why I feel the way I do. Thanks, had no idea. You know how I know you’re full of crap? You act like this is the first time a president lost then ran again for another term. No mention of that event that happened right after the civil war. His name was Grover Cleveland. Hmmm…Washington also warned of the two party system and all of us idiots decided to ignore that. Where’s that mention? Doesn’t fit your little narrative here is my guess. But you let me know in your next article what I’m thinking and why sir. The delusion of speaking on George Washington and Democracy while supporting a candidate NOBODY voted for isn’t lost on me either. Hey, that reminds me of another historical figure! Hippocrates…
“He thinks it’s just another corporate acquisition” they all do.
exactly
Somehow, Trump knows just who & how to con people.
I have no sympathy for Tom Nichols.
He isn't looking for your sympathy. He doesn't want to be your friend. Listen to the video. Read the article.
What a crazy statement!
Classic Maga cultist comment
I don’t think so at all. Washington was a rebel. He was a fighter. And I don’t think he would’ve approved at all with limiting free speech and using the media as well as the judicial system to attack political opposition. I don’t think he would’ve been a big fan of stacking the Supreme Court until you can get the verdict you want. I don’t think he would be in favor of political prosecution via the judicial system. I don’t think he would’ve been a fan of the way. Kamala became a candidate either. I think I’m going to have to disagree. George Washington would’ve been more like Trump. Fighting to our republic a republic.
I definitely don’t think he would’ve agreed with the push to subvert the Democratic process because they don’t have enough support to actually do a constitutional amendment to change the electoral college system so they’re trying to gather enough states to subvert the democratic process. The only people who are danger to democracy or Democrats.
What do you think our founders would have thought of Harris being made a presidential candidate without a primary without one vote. Would they think this is democracy? Elaine
Read the history of presidential elections.
The voters didn’t vote for a presidential candidate, they voted for an electoral college voter. The electoral college then chose the president.
I think they would be more concerned that she was a black woman tbh. Not even all white men could vote back then. Bro didn’t even free the slaves.
Joe Biden was not the official nominee and would not have been so until the Democratic Convention. When Biden dropped out, he was only the presumptive nominee and was not on a final ballot. The Democratic party make the rules for their own candidates, as does the GOP, their candidacy rules. It's got nothing to do with American democracy writ large.
Probably not much considering the primary process is a fairly modern concept. For about 80% of the countries’s history the party selected their presidential candidates.
Trump didn't participate in any debate, any meeting, didn't sign any agreement, basically he didn't do any primary and... He was voted by the delegation, same as Harris
Tom Nichols would be laughed at by George Washington.
😂
💨 Well alrighty 😒
GEORGE WASHINGTON LOVES PRESIDENT TRUMP
❤❤❤❤🇺🇸🇺🇸🙏🏻🙏🏻🇺🇸🇺🇸❤❤❤❤
Washington would weep and gnash his false teeth knowing that a criminal became president.
Both candidates are a total disaster, unfortunately. American democracy hasn't withstood the test of social media.
Limbaugh precedes social media.
@buzoff4642 There used to be a diversity of opinions. Limbaugh was just one of the voices. It's not different from the times of George Washington. Today, people live in online echo chambers that breed intolerance and cancel culture because of anonymity and how easy it is to remove someone from the list of "friends."
@@fibhufky Given they're required to be nomadic for employment, yes, they're online transient social.
The long haulers at work, drive an hour away in opposite directions. No lunching together anymore either.
I don't know about where you live, but the last neighborhood barbecue I remember was in the 1990s.
@@buzoff4642 Same thing here. We no longer know our neighbors. Used to be a family neighborhood. Not a single child on our street now. Young families with children were priced out.
I don't think we can BOTHSIDES this one. Nice try.
Is this an example of objective and neutral journalism or is this an example of Orwellian propaganda in favor of the Democratic Party?
I wonder how objective journalism can remain when faced with someone like Hitler or a populist/trash figure resembling him.
Only if you think HISTORY is an opinion that political parties can re-write at will. Nichols has written an article comparing Trump to Washington, as a historical figure with regard to each man's thoughts and ACTIONS on the political stage when they were in power.
IMHO, Orwell would see this as neutral, historical fact. Everyone is entitled to draw their own conclusions.
@@c.a.savage5689 Nope! When was the last time somebody who supports Trump was interviewed on this program? Douglas Murray, Victor Davis Hanson, Ben Shapiro, Mark Levin...etc.?
Clickbait Zzzzz
When TDS and STUPID intersect you get this claptrap!!!