Game Theory Playing Part in Ruling Trump White House
Trump’s culture on display during his Tulsa rally can be equated to an elaborate and dangerous alternate-reality game. According to Todd Martens, a game critic, the Trump presidency has been billed as a phenomenon born from chaos. It started in a flurry of tweets, online feuds and the sound of rules and norms bending and snapping like delicate floorboards under a listing democracy. However, Martens says that the strategy of the White House and the culture it has chosen to encourage is anything but random.
Posting extreme conspiracy theories one minute followed by racist phraseology then acting as if Trump’s initial choice of Juneteenth for his previous rally made the day that commemorates the end of slavery “re-known” rather than being a blatant swipe of disrespect is part of a strategy which relies on intolerable overwhelming online bullying. Martens also said that it pulls from an insidious corner of the gaming world as much as it does the history books.
He goes on to say that every bit of language out of the White House and Trump can be parsed for not-so-discrete coded messages and disinformation designed to create an environment full of symbols, allegiances and badges that create an us-versus-them playing field.
According to Martens, the bulk of Trump’s speech in Tulsa, Okla, relied strongly on fear-based rhetoric with violent underpinnings. It was delivered in broad strokes as if to define groups. From Trump’s speech, he said, “I know our people” while cheerleading his followers’ strength in battle after describing the Democratic Party as anarchists and instilling fear of immigration, even speaking out he grotesque slur “Kung-flu” describing COVID-19.
As much as many people jeered at the low turnout at the BOK Center rally after a lot of hype from the Trump team, Martens wrote that the president succeeded in disseminating his toxic message to a global audience. This thread has been increasing in recent weeks.
Reference
seangametheory 