The Republican primaries started on January 15 in -25°C. But above all, it was a chill in the back felt by those who feared a landslide victory for Donald Trump in Iowa, against Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy. With 51% of the votes, the former president totaled more votes than all his opponents combined! This fanfare start confirms what the Democratic camp knows without daring to admit it.
Trump is turning his legal troubles into political advantage, presenting himself as a victim of the elites. He is also a formidable stage beast: his charisma arouses the enthusiasm of his camp and he now has the luxury of displaying quiet strength. Just after his victory in Iowa, this communications pro presented himself, full of confidence, as a unifier of his camp, even as the father of the entire nation that he invited to reconcile.
The first president in the modern era to seek a second term after a four-year hiatus, Trump is establishing a “narrative” that fits the Hollywood archetype. It is that of “comeback kid”, this character who – like Sylvester Stallone in Rocky III – suffers failures, bounces back and, ultimately, triumphs.
On the other side of the ring, the unpopular Joe Biden, who initially suggested that he would only serve one term in order to prepare for generational change, seems a little on the ropes. It’s just an impression, of course. But in politics, the perception of things sometimes turns out to be as important as their reality.