How we speak about Trump’s European Disaster is important if we are to counter the Republican narrative.
- First off it’s a disaster; call it that.
- Trump’s meeting with Putin should be called a secret meeting. “Secret” evokes frames of hiding, fear of being caught and collusion. We must “demand to know what was said”.
- Trump’s meeting with NATO has” made America weak” and is “weakening democracy around the world”.
- Never mention his walk backs. They are evasions meant to distract. Don’t acknowledge the walk back on “would/wouldn’t” and speak as if he never walked back anything.Time spent talking about his walk backs on any issue just keeps those brain cells lit up in people’s brains.
- Talk about the larger picture: Say: “In one week Trump dismissed our 70 year relationship with our allies”, “weakened Europe”, “weakened NATO”, “weakened democracy” and “strengthened Vladimir Putin and Russia” and made the world “more dangerous”.
- Never say “The President has to stop acting like ___ and start_____”. A narcissist will not change their behavior because others tell them to or because facts prove them wrong. Our messaging should never suggest this possibility. “America is stuck with this dangerous man until or unless Republicans in Congress act.”
- Do not say “Congress must do it’s duty” or “Congress has failed”. Replace “Congress” with “Republicans in Congress”. Republicans created the conditions that allowed an autocrat to become President, enabled him to do what he has done and chosen to defend him; Democrats have not. Don’t include them by using the word Congress.
- Trump should always be referred to as the Republican President. As people turn from him they also need to turn from Republicans or we’ll be right back here in the future. Republicans created the conditions that opened the door to an autocrat, they defend him, they own him, they must pay for him in November.