What To Call Trump's Supporters
Just a warning, right up front: this is going to be a very silly column. As August draws to a close, the official Washington "Silly Season" also nears its end, which is usually when pundits get a bit loopy in general, when writing about the vast and changing landscape that is American politics. I am no different than the rest, and am succumbing to the overwhelming urge to write a trivial piece of fluff today. I state this right up here at the beginning, to give the reader a chance to spend their time more productively -- perhaps by watching online cat videos, or something equally edifying.
This column's subject matter suggested itself to me while perusing a recent George Will column. Will is absolutely horrified at Donald Trump's impressive and lasting popularity among the rank and file of the Republican base, because he is one of those conservatives who truly believes that Republicans somehow haven't been encouraging fringe voters on their side for the past few decades. This whole Trump phenomenon is downright distasteful for arbiters of conservative serious thinking such as Will, and I have to say it is rather amusing to watch them all clap their hands so furiously, in the hopes that the Tinker Bell of thoughtful conservatism will arise once again and save the day. If Trump shows anything, it's that this particular Tink is long dead and buried, but George Will and his ilk still forlornly hope for a resurrection.
See there? Only the second paragraph, and already we're into the world of fantastical metaphors. Hey, I warned you this was going to be silly.
What caught my eye, though (while I was admittedly enjoying the pure schadenfreude of Will savaging Trump), was his term for Trump's followers: "Trumpkins." This is either a mashup of Trump's name and the Munchkins from The Wizard Of Oz, or perhaps an even-more-obscure reference (Will just loves incredibly obscure references, it bears mentioning) from the Narnia series of books. Will's rampant disdain obviously extends past Trump to his followers, who Will sees in his mind's eye (assuming he means the Oz denizens) as small, amusing, and rather ridiculous. But, Will's seething angst aside, it does bring up the question of what to properly call Trump's followers.
Most political terms for a particular candidate's supporters borrow a lot from geographical or national nomenclature. Suffixes such as "-ites" and "-ians" are used, as if the politician's fans occupied their own region or country. Brooklynites could also be "Clintonites," for instance, or possibly "Reaganites." Oregonians could be "Bushians." Using this standard phrasing would give us either or "Trumpites" or "Trumpians" ("Trumpans"?) to describe The Donald's followers. Somehow, though, these fall flat on the ears (my ears, at any rate). They certainly don't lend themselves to the spectacular nature of the Trump phenomenon.
Donald Trump's legions of fans need something a little more distinctive. Other politicians have pioneered more catchy terms, but most of these are rather customized and probably wouldn't fit Trump's name (or persona). The first might have worked if John McCain hadn't already used it, mostly since his name works so well in "McCainiacs." That's a beautiful term, really, because you just have to remove the two "C" sounds to get to the root "maniacs." Somehow "Trumpiacs" doesn't trip off the tongue quite as well. Fervent supporters of Clinton (either one) were -- sometimes derisively -- called "Clintonistas," but due to the Spanish-language derivation of the term, "Trumpistas" is probably not going to fly. That's too bad, because the "-istas" is a good political match, evoking as it does images of wild-eyed revolutionaries emerging from the jungle. The Bush family has used "Bushies" to describe their own fans, but again, "Trumpies" sounds more like some esoteric fad in children's pajamas than anything else (or maybe children's vitamins: "Have you taken your Trumpies today?"). That's really too bad, because "Trumpies" (or, better, "Trumpys") could be paired quite easily with "grumpy," to great effect.
Still, we should be able to do better than George Will's "Trumpkins" (I'm surprised Will didn't go whole hog and call them something like "Trump-a-lump-a-ding-dongs," but then I guess that would be beneath his self-perceived dignity, or something). There are indeed quite a few creative options, if the intent is to denigrate. Instead of Oz, how about Willy Wonka's chocolate factory, which would give us: "Trumpaloompas." A shorter and simpler "Trumpaloons" might also work. Or perhaps the addictive nature of watching the Donald could give rise to "Trumpaholics" (with a detox "Trumpaholics Anonymous" option for disaffected followers)? The best play on an already-existing brand name, though, would fit Trump's political stance perfectly: "Trumper-stompers." "Trumper" doesn't really rhyme all that well with the original "Romper," but boy it sure would be appropriate!
Or we could just get downright silly (perhaps that should be "sillier than that preceding nonsense-fest you call a paragraph"). The one good fit with the way "Trump" sounds that sprang to mind makes no real sense politically, but it sure would be fun if everyone started using "Trumplestiltskins," wouldn't it?
There's the real rub -- any term has to go viral among both the chattering classes in the political world and Trump's followers themselves. Which probably rules out all but the most boring of the examples we've already examined. This leaves us with unexciting choices such as "Trumpers," or maybe (playing on "trample") "Trumplers."
There are, however, three fairly decent choices, at least from where I sit. Trump's brash attitude might fit in well with a common frat-boy linguistic construction, and I could even see his followers accepting the label "Trumpsters." That could indeed work. Or you could play on Trump's brassiness and dub his followers "Trumpeters." Loud and regal, that one, but I shy away from it because it would seriously annoy a whole lot of legitimate musicians by co-opting a perfectly good existing word.
Which brings us to our final choice -- one that is already tentatively being embraced by Trump's followers. It not only draws almost the same parallel with a loud and brassy instrument that "Trumpeters" does, but it deftly adds into the mix both Mickey Mouse and his children's club (which is devoted to all things Disney). What better term could there possibly be to signify the Disneyfication of American politics that The Donald represents than "Trumpeteers"?
We've taken a long and silly road to get to the end, but regular readers of this column know full well that we at ChrisWeigant.com take our editorial responsibilities very seriously (sometimes way too seriously, in fact -- see our previous stance on "TelePrompTer," for example). Because Donald Trump is the frontrunner in the Republican presidential nomination race -- meaning we're going to almost certainly be writing many more columns about him in the near future -- we thought it would be amusing (as well as pedantic) to explore the derivation of what to call Trump's ever-growing base of support. From now on in these pages, such Trump fans will henceforth be known as "Trumpeteers." This executive editorial decision is final... unless someone comes up with something funnier in the comments, that is. After all, why shouldn't everyone join in the celebration of the end of the 2015 Silly Season?
-- Chris Weigant
Follow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisWeigant
Trump's groupies are politically incorrect. They call themselves Trumptards.
It's a shame that "DeadHeads" is already taken.
As much as I like "Trumpeteers", the oompa loompa's and by extension the Trumpaloompas already come with the proper hair...
Again, with the hair...
Being so obsessed with Trump's hair is like being so obsessed with Hillary's pantsuits...
Having said that, Trumpaloompas is pretty funny...
And NOW I am going to have that song in my head all day. :(
Michale
Again, with the hair...
I mean, honestly...
Ya'all are so worried about Trump's hair but completely ignore Sanders' Doc Brown/Mad Scientist doo...
"Makes you wonder: If that man on the PTL Club is such an amazing healer, why can't he make his wife's Jiffy Pop hairdo go down?"
-Robin Williams, LIVE AT THE MET
:D
Michale
I've been thinking about the GOP's ill-advised attempts to rid themselves of the Trump menace. Like I've stated before, they should not antagonize a seasoned Twitter troll like the Donald. The problem isn't votes, it's media. As long as there are excess clowns to split the non-Trump poll respondents, Donald will dominate. The GOP needs to convince the losers (JEB, Walker, Rubio, Paul, Christie) to get out now and leave the vermin control to the professional trolls (Carson, Fiorina, Cruz, Graham).
I kinda like the "trumptations". .
There are many lyrical opportunities waiting for the treatment.
Upon further thought the Wonka thing was close, I think it just needed a little further artifice on it....
I think it should have been the "trumpalumpa's". I can already hear the movie musical song.
Trumpalumpa doopity doo , what are you going to do when immigrants try to come in too?
Gona build a wall to keep them from you....
trumpalumpa doopity doo....
Upon further thought the Wonka thing was close, I think it just needed a little further artifice on it....
I think it should have been the "trumpalumpa's". I can already hear the movie musical song.
Trumpalumpa doopity doo , what are you going to do when immigrants try to come in too?
Gona build a wall to keep them from you....
trumpalumpa doopity doo....
I kinda like the "trumptations". .
Point to GT for originality... :D
Michale
http://www.wsj.com/articles/america-is-so-in-play-1440715262
Trumpism is crossing all ethnic and political lines....
Michale
“He’s the man,” Cesar said of Mr. Trump. This week I went by and Cesar told me that after Mr. Trump threw Univision’s well-known anchor and immigration activist, Jorge Ramos, out of an Iowa news conference on Tuesday evening, the “El Vacilón” hosts again threw open the phone lines the following morning and were again surprised that the majority of callers backed not Mr. Ramos but Mr. Trump. Cesar, who I should probably note sees me, I sense, as a very nice establishment person who needs to get with the new reality, was delighted.
I said: Cesar, you’re supposed to be offended by Trump, he said Mexico is sending over criminals, he has been unfriendly, you’re an immigrant. Cesar shook his head: No, you have it wrong. Immigrants, he said, don’t like illegal immigration, and they’re with Mr. Trump on anchor babies. “They are coming in from other countries to give birth to take advantage of the system. We are saying that! When you come to this country, you pledge loyalty to the country that opened the doors to help you.”
Ya'all ignore and ridicule Trump's appeal and your own peril...
Michale
his term for Trump's followers: "Trumpkins." This is either a mashup of Trump's name and the Munchkins from The Wizard Of Oz, or perhaps an even-more-obscure reference (Will just loves incredibly obscure references, it bears mentioning) from the Narnia series of books.
Not just "Trump" plus "bumpkin"?
I could even see his followers accepting the label "Trumpsters."
Ok, now I know you're pulling our collective metaphorical leg. (Or perhaps finger.)
Trumpalumpa doopity doo , what are you going to do when immigrants try to come in too?
Gona build a wall to keep them from you....
trumpalumpa doopity doo....
ARRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!! GET IT OUT OF MY HEAD!!!!!!!!
Again, with the hair...
Being so obsessed with Trump's hair is like being so obsessed with Hillary's pantsuits...
Hey, hey, none of that tit for tat garbage. We have been making fun of Trump's hair long before he became a Republican...
Hey, hey, none of that tit for tat garbage. We have been making fun of Trump's hair long before he became a Republican...
But Democrats still took his money funny hair notwithstanding... :D
Michale
There is still the issue of Bernie Sanders and his hair...
http://cdn1.theodysseyonline.com/files/2015/07/18/6357279215313290881682670574_doc%20sanders.jfif
:D
Michale
Trumplings.
Trumperants
Trumpaces
Trumpons
Trumpletons
Trumpiots
I like John's Trumplings.