‘I've said it before and I'll say it again. The only thing I like about Donald Trump is his infantile tendency to say the quiet part out loud. He advances the same kinds of abuses as his predecessors, who were no less corrupt and controlled, but he exposes the underlying mechanics of those abuses in ways that more refined presidents never would.’ Caitlin Johnstone I wrote an entire [book](https://bookshop.org/p/books/our-own-worst-enemy-the-assault-from-within-on-modern-democracy-tom-nichols/15223174?ean=9780197645505) ([[Our Own Worst Enemy]]) about it—but a toxic combination of social resentment, entitlement, and racial insecurity drives many Trump voters to believe not only that other Americans are looking down on them but that they are doing so while living an undeservedly good life. These others must be punished or at least brought down to a common level of misery to balance the scales, and Trump is the guy to do it. 1. Trump Has No [[Skin in the Game]] for Ordinary People’s Struggles [[Nassim Nicholas Taleb]] core idea is that people should only trust leaders who share in the risks and consequences of their decisions. Trump, as a billionaire and former president, operates in a completely different risk [[Habitus|environment]] than ordinary citizens. • If the [[Economics|economy]] crashes, the working class loses jobs, homes, and healthcare. Trump, with vast wealth and political influence, remains largely untouched. • His policies (e.g., tax cuts for the wealthy, deregulation) overwhelmingly benefit elites like himself while offering minimal, if any, long-term benefits to those at the bottom. 2. The Illusion of Anti-Elitism Some support Trump because they believe he is “anti-elite,” but Skin in the Game warns against mistaking rhetoric for real risk-bearing. • Trump may criticize the establishment, but he still benefits from the same structures. He has used bankruptcies, tax loopholes, and insider connections to his advantage—tactics unavailable to regular people. • Unlike true risk-takers (e.g., small business owners or workers who depend on their labour), he has repeatedly failed in business but has always been bailed out, whether by banks, political allies, or inherited wealth. This is the opposite of “skin in the game.” 1. Asymmetric Risk: He Plays, Others Pay Taleb warns against leaders who impose risks on others while shielding themselves. Trump’s handling of major issues (e.g., the COVID-19 response, economic policy, foreign relations) often shifted the burden downward. • When his policies backfire, working-class and lower-income individuals bear the brunt. • His encouragement of risky behaviour (e.g., downplaying the pandemic) put ordinary people at greater personal and financial risk while he received top-tier medical care. Conclusion: Supporting Trump Is Betting Against Yourself By Taleb’s logic, people at the bottom of the hierarchy should not align with those who never share their risks. Supporting Trump means backing someone who plays the game without consequences—meaning when things go wrong, it’s not him who suffers, but those who trusted him.  `Concepts:` `Knowledge Base:`