The Tired Non-Conformist: Symbols for the Golden Age

We Took the Road Less Traveled, and That Has Made All the Difference.

Nov 11, 2024

During, or perhaps immediately after, the assassination attempt on President Trump, the world witnessed one of the most iconic photos in American history—Trump, with a defiant fist raised in front of the American flag, surrounded by Secret Service agents. As a non-American who spent much of my childhood traveling back and forth to the U.S., just 1.5 hours away, I find it incredible that anyone could remain unmoved by that image, regardless of their opinions about Donald Trump’s personality, much of which, in my view, is often misunderstood.

Watching the reactions on networks like The Young Turks and MSNBC on election night was some of the most entertaining media content of 2024. The palpable shock and disbelief, reminiscent of 2016 was truly entertaining. Well done TYT and MSNBC. Their reactions offered a glimpse into the perceived and I believe artificial political divide in America, even as Trump has secured another victory. It's truly difficult for some people to see the ground from their ivory towers.

I predict the subverters in legacy and alternative media will double down on gaslighting the American people, using the media to convince everyone they can, that Trump is illegitimate—just as they did from 2016 to 2020. The familiar narrative is already unfolding, but this time, the American people seem more resilient and aware of the fake news industry. The legacy media lustre has faded, like an old car abandoned in the desert sun, scorched with irreparable burn marks on the roof, growing like cancer every season. Much of legacy medias remaining power has been lost since the Canadian Trucker Protest, which stripped away the last remnants of its credibility.

I believe the Trump survival photo will be remembered historically, long after President Trump and the rest of us are gone, as it captures the essence of the American spirit. It embodies the willingness to fight back and the refusal to back down, traits fundamental to the American experience. The United States was founded by people who left the certainty of their homeland for the uncertainty and danger of a new life, driven by perseverance and the instinct that no matter what challenges the universe presents, they would make it work—and everything would turn out all right.

In this author’s opinion, we now have an arguably equal, if not more iconic, photo: a president who had the humility to stand by the average working American at McDonald’s, stepping into their shoes to experience what so many of us go through every day. Many people expressed online how moved they were that someone from the elite political establishment—who, believe me, often carry a real arrogance and disdain for ordinary people—would set all that aside to join Americans in living their daily experience.

Trump took a moment to reflect on the hard work of McDonald's employees, expressing genuine appreciation for those who face the daily grind. This is something many of Donald Trump's supporters and former employees have long noted about him. By 'people who have worked for him,' I don’t mean political actors who were fired or had friction with him during his administration, but rather the loyal employees who built their careers within his organizations. It’s a common experience for many who have worked with some of the most successful entrepreneurs.

There is a second photo from his campaign, equally iconic as the assassination survival image, that strikes a visceral emotional chord: it shows Trump waving from the drive-through at a McDonald's in Pennsylvania. This image resonates because it connects to our shared childhood memories, bringing to mind figures like Mr. Rogers from Mister Rogers' Neighborhood, Polka Dot Door, and of course Ronald McDonald. It evokes the nostalgia of going to McDonald’s as a treat from mom and dad, complete with a 'Happy Meal.' Think about that branding: 'Happy Meal.' This was a time before corporations like McDonald’s transformed into the cold, corporate entities they’ve become today, marked by a blend of brutalist architecture and Mies van der Rohe minimalist design, drifting our culture away from the playful restaurants with a cute village feel and the joy of a playground.

That photo of Trump encapsulates the emotions many Americans and Canadians felt as children—going to a place that was safe and fun, with the security of family values and hope and optimism for the future.

This is more than just a picture; it captures the stark contrast between the warmth of those simpler times and the disparity that millions of people around the world now feel. People are eager to reject the cruel, postmodern, neo-progressive ideologies that have been pushed upon them, underpinned by crony capitalism and the rise of fascistic global governments. Every day, people across the globe want to scream in frustration, 'Just leave me alone!'

This is why the phrase 'Make America Great Again' tugs at the desperate heartstrings of Americans on all states—not just in the Midwest, the South, Texas, Florida, Missouri, but also in New York, California, Oregon, and yes, Pennsylvania.

None of us—Americans, Canadians, or people around the world —want to see America fail or watch those around us continue to be poisoned by misery and cynicism. We want to see America flourish again. Yes, we are aware of America's problems—nothing is perfect, but this picture of Donald Trump so perfectly communicates to those of us desperate for a return to normalcy that everything's going to be alright, and that we will come home again to the safety and security of childhood, surrounded by those who loved us in the early years of our lives.

A culture cannot be transformed in just four years, but it's a promising start toward reviving the American spirit over generations. The moment of relief felt by millions around the world when the election was called for Trump seemed like the beginning of a new paradigm—a return to something great, or as Scott Adams describes it, the new Golden Age, provided the American people can maintain this positive momentum. In order to do this America will need it's democrats, liberals and centrists to reject extremist collectivism, misery and cynicism towards America and help build something great the rest of the world will want to emulate.

The Great American Trump McDonald's photo, a photo that might have changed history is now permanently etched in history, symbolizing the positive of two divergent paths ahead for the Western world. If we choose wisely, it will seem like a pivotal moment when America and the West began to rediscover their true selves. America has chosen wisely, it's time for the rest of the world to join us for a Happy Meal at MacDonald's and rediscover the hope we all had as children.