USA

As far as Donald Trump is concerned, his primary job is not running the U.S. government. It is, rather, his starring role in the multi-media reality show that we’ll call The American President.

Much of the commentary on the Trump presidency makes the very understandable mistake of trying to understand Trump’s decisions as part of a strategy for governance. That type of analysis assumes that Trump has a policy outcome in mind, even if it is one with which the commentator disagrees with.

But the welter of contradictory policies and appointments, the staggering lack of information or consistency in Trump’s own statements, and the utter lack of attention to implementation tell another story. Trump is writing a script, with himself as the reality star, and the only thing that matters is the ratings.

To get those ratings, a show needs dramatic tension. More than that, every episode needs a short-arc - a story that begins, climaxes and resolves within the episode – that fits within the show’s long-arc - a continuing story which each episode advances a little bit.

Every decision Trump makes reflects an effort to create a short-arc that works for the immediate news cycle and to advance the long-arc narrative of The American President.

And so, in this week’s episode, Trump will take his “America First” crusade into the very den of globalism: The World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The “Donald does Davos” episode fits neatly into this effort to create and develop dramatic tension for both the short- and long-arc. It will certainly make for great television.

Just by showing up, Trump creates the dramatic tension of the short-arc. Every headline notes that he is attending a gathering that is diametrically opposed to the anti-globalist theme that he campaigned on. The press is besides itself with speculation about whether Trump will use the opportunity to try to stick it to the global elites where they live (or at least vacation), or whether he will seek to win them over to his cause.

Even those leaders who speak out against him play their role by upping the dramatic tension and providing convenient villains or potential odd couple love interests. Indeed, French President Emmanuel Macron seems set to become a recurring character and has already signed up to star in a future episode entitled “State Dinner”.

Davos also helps the long-arc story of the Trump presidency by providing another opportunity to highlight Trump’s valiant crusade against the forces of globalism that are oppressing the American people. As the crème de la crème of global finance begs and scrapes to get into his presence, he will demonstrate the craven perfidy of the one-percent and his power over them.

The actual content of Trump’s trip matters little to the ratings. Either way, his supporters will cheer, and his opponents will laugh, cry, or throw things at the TV. But they will all be watching.