When U.K. rappers Harlem Spartans rapped, “Splash man down with the rambo, then I make it bang like a skeng,” they could have been describing Trump’s M.O. of saying crazy stuff with absolute conviction as a distraction when things are not going his way.
For those who might not be way too familiar with U.K. street slang and Hiphop, in the lyrics, “rambo” refers to a knife, skeng is slang for gun, and the line emphasizes the intensity of their actions.
When former President Donald Trump recently announced his intent to reopen Alcatraz as a maximum-security federal prison and impose unprecedented tariffs on foreign-produced films, reactions ranged from bewilderment to outright ridicule. Yet beyond the surface-level absurdity, there's a deeper strategic calculus at play. These headline-grabbing proposals are less about practical policy than political distraction, a tactic that Trump has mastered to control media narratives and energize his political base.
Consider the proposal to reopen Alcatraz, the infamous prison island off the coast of San Francisco. Closed since 1963 due to prohibitive costs and deteriorating infrastructure, Alcatraz is now one of America's most iconic tourist attractions, drawing over a million visitors annually. Trump’s notion of converting this decaying relic back into a modern prison is riddled with logistical nightmares. The cost to refurbish the island to contemporary standards is astronomical, and the Bureau of Prisons historically abandoned Alcatraz precisely due to the insurmountable operational hurdles associated with running a remote, isolated facility.
California Governor Gavin Newsom succinctly dismissed the plan as "pure political theater," emphasizing that it distracts from meaningful discussions about criminal justice reform and penal infrastructure improvements. Newsom’s sentiments were echoed by political analyst David Axelrod, who observed that Trump's pattern of floating outlandish ideas "isn’t policy, it's performance art designed to hijack media attention."
Indeed, Axelrod hits on a crucial point: these flamboyant declarations aren't accidental. They reflect a deliberate and calculated strategy, particularly useful in deflecting scrutiny from less favorable issues or political setbacks. The more outrageous and impractical the proposal, the more it serves Trump’s broader narrative, dominating headlines and social media feeds and sidelining inconvenient truths or damaging revelations.
The second piece of Trump's latest puzzle, the proposed 100% tariff on foreign-produced films, similarly illustrates this distraction mechanism. At first glance, the idea appears to be economically nonsensical. The global film industry is deeply interconnected, relying heavily on international collaboration. Many American studios frequently produce films overseas due to favorable tax incentives and diverse locations. Imposing such a tariff could cause severe disruption, triggering retaliatory trade measures that would inevitably harm American cultural exports and create confusion within the industry itself.
Film industry expert and commentator Richard Roeper called the proposal "absurdly unrealistic," noting that such drastic tariffs would be virtually impossible to enforce given the complexity of modern film production and distribution. Even the Motion Picture Association has yet to clearly articulate the potential consequences, signaling widespread uncertainty and doubt about the tariff’s feasibility or genuine intent.
Yet, Trump's provocative tariff suggestion has undeniably succeeded in another critical area, it has stolen headlines. Discussions of economic intricacies or trade complexities rarely excite public passion or media fervor; by framing the narrative in simplistic, nationalist terms, Trump galvanizes his supporters and simultaneously compels his opponents to react. The ensuing debates and outrage serve precisely the distractionary function he intends.
Political commentator Jon Stewart, known for his sharp critiques, provided a particularly insightful analysis: "Trump’s MO has always been about chaos and diversion. The crazier the idea, the less we focus on what's actually happening beneath the noise." Stewart's assessment succinctly captures Trump’s broader political methodology, a relentless pursuit of spectacle to obscure substantive policy discussions or uncomfortable controversies.
This isn't mere conjecture. Trump has consistently employed distraction as a powerful political tool throughout his public career. Outrageous declarations, improbable initiatives, and performative actions are frequently timed to shift media attention away from sensitive issues, political vulnerabilities, or administrative missteps. In the current context, with ongoing legal battles, economic uncertainties, and internal party divisions, these seemingly ludicrous proposals serve to divert public scrutiny, making it harder for substantive criticism or accountability to gain sustained attention.
From a historical perspective, employing distraction as political strategy isn't novel. Leaders across the political spectrum and throughout history have resorted to similar tactics. But Trump's mastery of this art form is particularly acute. He understands intimately that in our digital age, dominated by social media, quick-fire headlines, and public spectacle, attention is the ultimate currency. By constantly introducing radical, headline-grabbing concepts, he retains control of the narrative, even if those ideas rarely evolve into actionable policy.
In evaluating Trump's latest proposals, it's essential not merely to dismiss them as absurd. Instead, we should recognize their strategic purpose. Whether reopening Alcatraz or imposing tariffs on films, these proposals have little chance of realization. Yet their function is undeniable: to dominate headlines, engage supporters emotionally, provoke opponents into reactionary cycles, and divert attention from the critical, practical issues facing the nation.
Understanding this dynamic is crucial for voters, politicians, and media alike. Falling into the trap of endless outrage or mockery only reinforces the effectiveness of Trump's strategy. A better response is measured, analytical discourse that refocuses public attention on genuine challenges and meaningful policy debates. Only by doing so can the public mitigate the distracting power of performative politics and hold leaders truly accountable.
Ultimately, Trump's latest spectacle around Alcatraz and movie tariffs is less about governance and more about the politics of distraction, an intentional move designed to muddy the waters, dominate the news cycle, and sustain political momentum amid challenging circumstances. Recognizing this tactic for what it is remains essential for anyone committed to preserving a rational, substantive, and accountable political environment.
Disclaimer: Jim Powers writes Opinion Columns. The views expressed in this editorial are my own and do not necessarily reflect those of Polk County Publishing or its affiliates. In the interest of transparency, I am politically Left Libertarian.
