Dwain Northey (Gen X)

Donald J. Trump can be compared to Wile E. Coyote—not because he’s perpetually failing, but because, unlike the cartoon character whose elaborate schemes always backfire on him, Trump’s plans often blow up in everyone else’s face. Wile E. Coyote straps himself to a rocket, paints tunnels on canyon walls, and falls victim to his own hubris. Trump, on the other hand, launches rhetorical and political “rockets” that send shockwaves across institutions, norms, and even global alliances—yet he somehow walks away with minimal personal damage, at least in the short term.

Consider his use of misinformation during the COVID-19 pandemic, or his refusal to concede the 2020 election—strategies that sowed chaos and division nationwide. Yet Trump remained a powerful political figure, even while others (his aides, lawyers, and supporters) faced legal or social fallout. He throws the stick of dynamite, steps aside, and watches as it detonates under the feet of his own followers. Like Wile E., Trump repeatedly defies logic, but unlike the coyote, he rarely pays the price himself. Whether it’s bankruptcies, impeachments, or indictments, his knack for deflection is uncanny. He’s the trickster who escapes the consequences while the rest of the desert smolders behind him.