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Inside the ‘Gangster’ Image of Donald Trump

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New York Times: “Mr. Trump and his allies have steadily adopted street slang, music and style, selling $400 golden sneakers, blasting hip-hop at rallies, inviting conservative artists to Mar-a-Lago, Mr. Trump’s private club and residence in Palm Beach, Fla., and even welcoming rappers accused of murder onstage at a rally.”

He has played up a macho invincibility and swagger in his messaging, railing against his felony convictions and casting himself as an outlaw. After Mr. Trump was booked at an Atlanta jail last year, his campaign spokesman posted a video of the former president’s motorcade on X, with the message: ‘gang gang bitches.’”

“Surviving the assassination attempt this month has fueled the effort. In the hours after Mr. Trump was shot in the ear at a rally, the rapper 50 Cent posted an image of his ‘Get Rich or Die Tryin’’ album cover with Mr. Trump’s head superimposed on his body.”

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About Political Wire

goddard-bw-snapshotTaegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire, one of the earliest and most influential political web sites. He also runs Political Job Hunt, Electoral Vote Map and the Political Dictionary.

Goddard spent more than a decade as managing director and chief operating officer of a prominent investment firm in New York City. Previously, he was a policy adviser to a U.S. Senator and Governor.

Goddard is also co-author of You Won - Now What? (Scribner, 1998), a political management book hailed by prominent journalists and politicians from both parties. In addition, Goddard's essays on politics and public policy have appeared in dozens of newspapers across the country.

Goddard earned degrees from Vassar College and Harvard University. He lives in New York with his wife and three sons.

Goddard is the owner of Goddard Media LLC.

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