The Golden Trump Statue and Its Magic Wand at CPAC 2021: Do Conservatives Believe in Magic?

I still disintegrate into astonishment every time I think about the bizarre Golden Trump statue that was wheeled into the recent Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the Hyatt in Orlando, Florida. All public speaking takes place in a setting, and that setting helps create the speech’s meaning. Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address had special meaning because he gave it at a military cemetery dedication. Ronald Reagan’s “Tear Down This Wall” was powerful because he delivered it in front of the Berlin Wall. An American Flag gives speakers a patriotic background image. In turn, the CPAC speakers spoke down the hall from the Golden Trump statue. The statue was part of their context. 

What did the statue mean? What did it tell us? Well, where should I begin? My earlier post discussed the obvious sacrilege (at least in the Judeo-Christian tradition) of worshiping a golden idol. Should I next talk about the statue’s American Flag shorts? The kingly crown? (Patrick Henry warned us that our president could become a king!) The red sandals? Or the too-long red tie?

Did Patrick Henry Warn Us about Donald Trump? 

The Golden Trump at CPAC 2021: Why Is the Christian Right Silent? 

No, to me, the real message was the star-tipped magic wand that the statue waved in its hand.

 

A magic wand? The symbolism boggles the imagination. The magic wand represented Trump’s ability to provide simple, imaginary solutions to the complex problems that his supporters prefer to ignore.  

 

So, first, what is magic? If we ignore modern interpretations in Harry Potter and Charmed, and go back to its origins, magic uses ritualistic behavior from pagan religions. Most pagan religions are practical: people appeal to local gods for fertile crops, good health, romantic success, or the destruction of one’s enemies. Pagan religious practice often involves spell-casting rather than prayer: if the exact spell is recited with the exact, correct words, in the exact right way, it compels a goddess, tree-spirit, or love-god to fulfill a wish. In Homer’s Odyssey, various gods used magic wands to channel their power and place people under magic spells.

 

Life would be simple if magic actually worked. Yet, in real life, Trump did not wave a magic wand and stop the pandemic. Nor did he wave a magic wand and fix the economy. That’s because magic wands don’t actually work.

 

Suppose, for example, that we want to stop the coronavirus pandemic. Real solutions require effort: people could wear masks, avoid large gatherings, take vaccines, and so forth. Who needs that? How unpleasant! Trump famously predicted that the coronavirus epidemic would go away like a miracle. Much easier. That sounds, however, more like magic than science.

 

Well, the miracle didn’t happen. But the magic wand can accomplish many make-believe things. Maybe the Golden Trump idol can wave its magic wand and get Trump back into office? Maybe the magic wand could still give us a miraculous virus cure? Maybe the Golden Trump idol can wave its magic wand to make immigrants go away? (Since opposition to immigration was one of Trump’s main agenda items.)

 

No, course not. Facing real problems requires effort. We might need policies. We might need to spend money. We might need to change how we do things. We might need to learn from the school of hard knocks and do things differently.

 

But, if you are a Trump supporter at CPAC, who wants to do that? Isn’t waving a magic wand a lot simpler?

 

When I was in grade school, our teacher explained that ancient Sumerian kings read omens and entrails and consulted astrologers before they made important decisions. She assured us that such things didn’t happen in the United States. I’m afraid that she was wrong. President Ronald Reagan scheduled his news conferences only after his wife consulted an astrologer. And, now, Trump’s worshippers brought in a Golden Trump idol that could wave a magic wand and solve all of their problems.

 

By the way, of course Trump’s CPAC crowd were worshippers. A golden idol? A magic wand? Could they be more obvious?

 

Still, we all know that a magic wand won’t solve the nation’s problems.

 

The rhetorical implications are fabulous. First of all, CPAC attendees can, if challenged, deny everything. Yes, the wand is undeniable, but they can explain it away. The magic wand obviously symbolizes pagan magic, but since it is an image, not a policy document, they can reinterpret its meaning if someone challenges them. (I don’t think anyone has yet.) Yet, nobody needs to explain the magic wand to them; they can see it for themselves. Most of all, they can continue their fantasy that Trump’s supposedly miraculous powers can solve their problems without requiring them to engage in actual policy, make sacrifices, or face reality.

 

Lots of people believe in magic, but I never thought they would try to control the United States government with a magic wand.

 

 

P.S. Communication researchers have produced a rich and insightful literature about visual persuasion. A good introduction is this wonderful article by Katherine L. Hatfield, Ashley Hinck, and Mary J. Birkholt.

 

P.P.S. Since many CPAC speakers profess the Judeo-Christian religious tradition, what does the Bible say about magicians? Oops, it’s not good: “I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, . .  saith the Lord of hosts.   --Malachi 3:5. Hmm.