Donald Trump's background in professional wrestling paved the way for his political career. By using the wrestling concept "kayfabe" - the art of making staged events seem real - Trump embodies the message that politics was always fake, while masquerading as authentic. This has tapped into an already existing disillusionment with the American political system. It can also explain why playing the villain isn't necessarily a bad thing, according to Religious Studies scholar Aaron James Goldman.
"Conventional actors on stage and screen have an agreement with the audience. It is clear to everyone that what is happening isn't real. Otherwise, viewers would be terrified when someone died on film, for example. In professional wrestling, however, the wrestlers pretend that it's really happening, even when off the stage. The audience cheers and plays along", says Aaron James Goldman.
This is a performance style referred to as "kayfabe". It maintains the illusion that the matches and storylines are genuine, even though they are actually carefully planned out in advance.
"Donald Trump has learned a lot from professional wrestling in terms of working crowds. He regularly uses the theatrics of this format to manipulate his audience in an entertaining way", explains Aaron James Goldman.
These theatrics became clear in connection with the recent assassination attempt on Donald Trump, when he raised his fist in a defiant gesture almost immediately afterwards. "Fight", he shouted to the crowd and the cameras. The incident highlights Trump's awareness of the image he wants to project, even in chaotic situations, and how he uses those moments to reinforce his messaging.
"Trump seems to have deliberately taken on the role of a villain that people both hate and cheer for", Goldman argues. "In wrestling, the villain is called a 'heel' - someone who breaks the rules, provokes the audience and provokes strong reactions".
"While Trump openly plays the villain, some voters believe the Democrats are hiding something; that they're simply pretending to be nice. For instance, the Democrats remained silent about Biden's cognitive abilities until this summer. In contrast, Trump has no problem lying to people's faces. To lie openly seems to be perceived as more genuine than staying silent, omitting truth or pretending not to lie", says Aaron James Goldman.
In the 2016 elections, Hillary Clinton received the highest number of votes in total, yet Trump took home the victory. According to a 2022 University of Chicago poll, 56 percent of Americans overall, and only 33 percent of Republicans, believe their political system is fair.
"Pre-Trump research suggests declining trust in the US electoral system, particularly among Republicans. Even before Trump, Americans had begun to doubt the veracity of the political contests they saw on TV", says Aaron James Goldman.
When Trump paints his opponents as fraudsters and exposes politics as a farce, he makes those who feel powerless feel empowered. In this way, he exposes a weariness with politics that existed long before him.
"Many believe that the Trump voters are duped. But they don't necessarily believe everything Trump says. They're watching a show and they let Trump perform", says Aaron James Goldman.
Trump himself claimed election fraud as the culprit when he lost in 2020, using the already eroded trust in the electoral system among his supporters to gain further support. After being the subject of several court processes, Trump eventually called the verdict a "witch hunt" and accused the judge of being corrupt.
"'Everything is rigged' and 'the electoral system is illegitimate,' according to Trump, yet he uses the same perceived flaws to become president himself", says Aaron James Goldman:
"Trump highlights that American politics are as dishonest as professional wrestling, placing them in the same genre. To his advantage, he fulfills the prophecy he himself criticizes: that the system is corrupt".
To Aaron James Goldman, one thing is clear - the American political system was always leading to Trump.
"The Democrats like to highlight Trump as the exception, and believe that life should return to how it was before. However, Trump is the culmination of something bigger than himself. He is the truth about us [Americans] more than we care to admit", Goldman concludes.
