13) Trump is a Bully; That is the Opposite of a Leader

Reason #13 to Vote Blue on Nov 5

His father taught him to “Win at all costs.” His classmates at the military high school he attended said he was a bully.

Mr. Kovaleski; Mr Trump mocking him at a rally.

Bullying takes many forms; one is public mockery. It began during his 2016 Presidential campaign and it has continued to this day. It was the November 24, 2015 news video from a Trump campaign rally in South Carolina that stunned and repulsed me; it was when Trump publicly ridiculed the physical appearance of NY Times reporter Serge Kovaleski who has a chronic condition called arthrogryposis, which limits the movement of his arms.

But before and since then, Trump has demonstrated many other forms of bullying, like…

• Calling opponents “stupid,” “losers,” “crooks,” and other rude things.

• Labeling people with derogatory nicknames: like calling his Secretary of Transportation, Elaine Chao, “Coco Chow”; former governor of South Carolina, Nikki Haley, “Birdbrain.” He did this with at least 56 public figures!

• Interrupting constantly. Yelling over others that are attempting to speak. Listen to any of the TV debates in 2016 or 2020. Or TV press conferences.

• Encouraging crowds toward violence. Example: On the day of the 2016 Iowa caucuses, he said that protesters might be planning to throw tomatoes at him. So, he said, supporters should feel free to “knock the crap out of ’em, would you? Seriously. Okay? Just knock the hell — I promise you, I will pay for the legal fees. I promise. I promise.” For more, see resources. And “Reason #8.” The video below was made 8 years ago and does not include the 2020 campaign, the Jan 6 rally of 2021, or the current 2024 campaign. But nothing has changed.

Both President Dwight Eisenhower and President Ronald Reagan were Republicans. Neither were bullies. In fact, they were well liked by most people, including those who disagreed with them. They both had firmly-held principles and used their personal skills to promote their policies and to keep America safe and prosperous… without being bullies! That is being Presidential!