Trump would have been down there handing out bottled water or some other symbolic thing. Would it have been useful? In the grand scheme of things probably not very. But as a symbol that our so-called "leaders" actually give a shit about us instead of seeing themselves as "separate from" and "better than" (which we know is the case, but sometimes it's nice to pretend otherwise), it's quite powerful.
The media is an enemy institution; you aren't trying to win their favor any more than a general greeting his soldiers is trying to win the favor of the opposing army.
You're trying to gain the favor of the normal people, and perhaps additionally some loyalty from your supporters. In that regard Trump was enormously successful, though sadly that loyalty ultimately was wasted because Trump was unwilling to use it to stay in power.
Trump would have been down there handing out bottled water or some other symbolic thing. Would it have been useful? In the grand scheme of things probably not very. But as a symbol that our so-called "leaders" actually give a shit about us instead of seeing themselves as "separate from" and "better than" (which we know is the case, but sometimes it's nice to pretend otherwise), it's quite powerful.
The media is an enemy institution; you aren't trying to win their favor any more than a general greeting his soldiers is trying to win the favor of the opposing army.
You're trying to gain the favor of the normal people, and perhaps additionally some loyalty from your supporters. In that regard Trump was enormously successful, though sadly that loyalty ultimately was wasted because Trump was unwilling to use it to stay in power.
Theyre gushing that biden will be tossing out tamales to us.
Like yeah, sure, he'll get right on that when he's done playing mario kart/napping/taking bribes/shitting on the country some more.