Unhinged rants v. Presidential Communication

Trump's Truth

While this Donald Trump Truth Social post from 2 days ago (April 9th 2026) is stylistically accurate to Trump’s usual output, it feels very jarring. This goes beyond even Trump’s typical behavior and enters a realm that is historically unprecedented for a sitting (or even former) U.S. President. I've waited for 2 days to see if it would be deleted and a claim of "I've been hacked" would be issued. But no...

Let’s break down why this feels so different and undignified, using President Richard Nixon - infamous for behind-the-scenes rants and 'enemies list' etc - as a benchmark. Bear in mind I've had to somewhat normalise the format by putting this 'stream of consciousness' rant into paragraphs, for readability.

Transcript:

I know why Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens, and Alex Jones have all been fighting me for years, especially by the fact that they think it is wonderful for Iran, the Number One State Sponsor of Terror, to have a Nuclear Weapon — Because they have one thing in common, Low IQs. They’re stupid people, they know it, their families know it, and everyone else knows it, too!
Look at their past, look at their record. They don’t have what it takes, and they never did! They’ve all been thrown off Television, lost their Shows, and a’even’t been invited on TV because nobody cares about them, they’re NUT JOBS, TROUBLEMAKERS, and won’t say anything necessary for some “free” and cheap publicity. Now they think they get some “clicks” because they have Third Rate Podcasts, but nobody’s talking about them, and their views are the opposite of MAGA — Or I wouldn’t have won the Presidential Election in a LANDSLIDE.

MAGA agrees with me, and just gave CNN a 100% Approval Rating of “TRUMP,” not Hand Flailing Fools like Tucker Carlson, who couldn’t even finish College, he was a broken man when he got fired from Fox, and he’s never been the same — Perhaps he should see a good psychiatrist! Or Megyn Kelly, who nastily asked me the now famous, “Only Rosie O’Donnell,” question! Or “Crazy” Candace Owens, who accuses the Highly Respected First Lady of France of being a man, when she is not, and will hopefully win lots of money in the ongoing lawsuit.

Actually, to me, the First Lady of France is a far more beautiful woman than Candace, in fact, it’s not even close! Or Bankrupt Alex Jones, who says some of the dumbest things, and lost his entire fortune, as he should have, for his horrendous attack on the families of the Sandy Hook shooting victims, ridiculously claiming it was a hoax.

These so-called “pundits” are LOSERS, and they always will be! Now Fake News CNN, The Failing New York Times, and all of the other Radical Left “News” Organizations, are “hailing” them, and giving them “positive” press for the first time in their lives. They’re not “MAGA,” they’re losers, just trying to latch on to MAGA. As President, I could get them on my side I want to, but when they call, I don’t return their calls because I’m too busy on World and Country Affairs and, after a few times, they go “nasty,” just like Marjorie “Traitor” Brown, but I no longer care about that stuff, I only care about doing right for our Country.

MAGA is about WINNING and STRENGTH in not allowing Iran to have Nuclear Weapons. MAGA is about MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, and these people have no idea how to do that, BUT I DO, because THE UNITED STATES IS NOW THE “HOTTEST” COUNTRY ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD!

President DONALD J. TRUMP

The Nixon Principle: “Presidents Don’t Threaten”

Richard Nixon’s infamous rants on the Watergate tapes were private. They revealed his paranoia, his bitterness, and his raw animus. Crucially, they were not for public consumption. The unwritten rule of the presidency, which Nixon himself understood, was to maintain a certain public decorum. The office itself demanded a veneer of dignity, even if the man holding it was seething with rage in private. The power was in the office, not in the need to publicly berate individual commentators.

Again, behind closed doors, Richard Nixon occasionally made off-the-cuff remarks about women's looks but Trump's "the First Lady of France is a far more beautiful woman than Candace, in fact, it’s not even close!" - in a public declaration is not only ungallant but bizarro.

How Trump’s Behavior Breaks This Mold

What is blatant - and even shocking - in this post is the complete demolition of that barrier. This isn’t just undignified; it’s a strategic and stylistic departure that has several unique characteristics:

The Targeting is Granular and Down-Market: Nixon ranted about political rivals, journalists from major institutions (like the Washington Post), and powerful figures. Trump, in this post, is targeting a mix of media figures (some mainstream, some not) and podcasters/YouTubers. Attacking figures like Candace Owens or Alex Jones—people who were, at times, allies - is not just undignified, it’s perceived as punching down. A former President engaging in a public feud with a podcaster is a new and bizarre chapter in American political history.
The Medium is the Message: These platforms themselves (X/Twitter/Truth Social) encourages this kind of raw, unfiltered, and immediate communication. Nixon’s rants were captured on a clandestine recording system. Trump’s are broadcast globally, instantly, and by his own hand. This removes the filter of advisors, speechwriters, and strategic communication teams that traditionally reined in a president’s worst impulses.
The Inversion of Power Dynamics: The traditional presidential stance is to rise above the fray, to ignore critics. Engaging with them, especially with such vitriol, elevates their status and diminishes the office. It makes the President look reactive and insecure, as if his power is threatened by a “Third Rate Podcast.” A true leader doesn’t need to do this. Their power is inherent in their position. Trump’s approach inverts this, suggesting that dominance must be constantly and aggressively re-established in the public square.

OK, those are exact reasons this content feels so jarring, even to those accustomed to Trump’s style. It’s not just the what (the attacks) but the who (podcasters, allies) and the how (publicly, on social media, with such abandon) that makes it feel like a genuine departure from any historical precedent for presidential behavior. It’s a new, and to many, deeply unsettling form of political communication. Now, what does this imply...?

Is This “Going Off the Rails”?

Yes, by any historical standard, this is going off the rails. It represents a fundamental shift in the expectation of presidential conduct.

For traditionalists: It’s a horrifying development. It’s seen as corrosive to democratic norms, diminishing the prestige of the presidency, and encouraging a coarser, more toxic political discourse. The dignity of the office is sacrificed for the immediate gratification of settling personal scores.
For his supporters: This is often seen differently. They might view it as “authenticity.” They see a fighter who refuses to play by the old rules of a “rigged system.” To them, his willingness to attack anyone—regardless of their station—is a sign of strength and a refusal to be cowed by media elites or anyone else. He’s not just a politician; he’s an entertainment figure who understands that conflict creates engagement. HOWEVER, Trump is attacking former allies and supporters in the likes of Candace Owens and Alex Jones and even friends in the case of Tucker Carlson. Does he really think Tucker carlson is "low IQ!" ?

In the next post we will lay out how trump could and indeed should have tackled this if he needed to get it off his chest or deflect criticism
Watch this space....