Reviewing politics
and culture since 1913

  1. Politics
  2. Media
4 January 2016

Watch: Donald Trump’s first TV campaign ad is like a trailer for a bad thriller

The Republican presidential hopeful appears to be introducing a new, dramatic film genre: bigoted fiction.

By Media Mole

Donald Trump’s first televised campaign broadcast is like a trailer for a bad blockbuster thriller. It has everything. The booming voiceover, harrowing sepia footage, and giant quotations splashing across the screen.

It has conspiracy: the politicians like Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton pretend what Trump so boldly calls “radical Islamic terrorism” is… “something else”.

It has conflict: “cut the head off of Isis and take their oil”.

It has crisis: we haven’t yet managed to “figure out what’s going on”.

And, thankfully, it has resolution: “building a wall on our southern border that Mexico will pay for”.

But in case you were feeling uncomfortable, purists will also enjoy the classic trope of the Trumpian genre: “a temporary shut-down of Muslims entering the United States”.

Treat yourself or a friend this Christmas to a New Statesman subscription from £1 per month

Let’s hope it goes straight to DVD.

Content from our partners
Ten million reasons to change
Why Labour’s growth plan must empower UK retail investors
Housing to curate communities