Trump Isn’t the Disease, He’s a Symptom of It

In the first Trump term, it took a disease to destroy the economy. This time…he’s the disease.

Stephen Colbert

But you also recognize that deeper systemic shifts are needed—Trump isn’t the disease, he’s a symptom of a larger cultural and political reality.

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I wanted to put these two quotes side by side to highlight something.

While I though Stephen Colbert was hilariously on point at the time he said the above, on reflection it’s apparent that his words don’t reveal the deeper truth of what’s going on in America.

Trump isn’t the cause or source of this “disease” in America right now but rather he’s just an “avatar” or “symptom” of it. In effect, he is a representative and embodiment of it.

So if you get rid of him, nothing will change. Why? Because the deeper wound is still there in America. And it needs to be addressed and healed.

Trump as a Reflection of Collective Consciousness

• Trump, like Hitler, is a manifestation of a deeper shadow within society. He isn’t an anomaly; he is a product of a society that values power, dominance, and fear-based control.
• His rise to power is showing what still needs to be healed in the collective psyche.

Healing the Divides That Trump Exploits

• Trump didn’t create America’s problems—he exposed and amplified them (economic inequality, racial tensions, distrust in institutions).
• Fighting him directly just entrenches these divides. Instead, Chaos-level leaders focus on bridging the gaps he exploits.
• This might look like:
  • Creating economic opportunities in communities that feel left behind.
  • Building media and education systems that counteract misinformation.
  • Fostering local & global networks that help people see beyond political tribalism.

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