Donald Trump: A Faux Populist

Donald Trump, among his sins, is a phony populist, which was on display at the Presidential debate this week. He offered little except self-serving boasts  to Americans who're struggling, ordinarily a top priority for a genuine populist.
   It's easy to see why he ignores the admonitions of Republicans like Nikki Haley to focus on policy rather than personal attacks. He is all about his own personal grievances and resentments. 
  The economy is the top issue for many voters.  Kamala Harris at least offered some specifics on what she would do on housing, children, health care and small businesses. Trump presented almost nothing except claims that he crafted and will create the greatest economy the world has ever seen. 
  He parades as a populist, as does his running mate, J.D. Vance. But his important policies on taxes and tariffs would adversely affect working class and middle class Americans while the wealthy would fare just fine. (Vance shows populist strains on issues like anti-trust, but like his political boss, shows little interest in comforting the afflicted or afflicting the comfortable on health care or taxes with the exception of favoring an expanded child tax credit.)
       There are different variations or definitions of political populism.  Trump defenders cite his rhetoric against globalism and immigration.  A lot of his appeal to working class voters is cultural -- guns, abortion, Christian values -- - and he cons supporters to think he's on their side against elites and the establishment.

    But real American populism needs a strong economic element.  Trump flunks that test. Imagine tapping billionaire Elon Musk, with billions of dollars of federal contracts, to oversee wasteful spending.