Despite facing criminal investigations, the former president’s poll ratings are rising. He is a master at gaming the media.
As a British-born New Yorker, I am beginning to find the complete lack of American interest in the coronation of King Charles III mildly irritating. Charles and President Joe Biden seem to evoke the same enthusiasm gap. Two woke old geezers who got the job too late and want us to ignore the ticking clock. Americans got the point of Queen Elizabeth II. Her Maj was regal. What they don’t get is kings who are merely kingly by virtue of their office. Charles isn’t regal, so he has no aura with which to seduce us. The palace assurances of a slimmed-down, fiscally responsible, inclusive coronation are not what’s needed. Absent gold carriages stuffed with ermine-cloaked grandees, crowned heads tripping over each other’s robes, and the Sussexes – if they deign to come – strategically obscured behind a flying buttress in Westminster Abbey, what’s to ogle? Americans wouldn’t dream of getting “slimmed down” without a prescription for Ozempic.
The lack of excitement surrounding Charles is a sign of how far removed royalty has become from American sensibilities. There is an enduring fascination with the British monarchy in the United States, but that is mostly tied to Queen Elizabeth II. She was a symbol of grace and tradition, and even those who were not avid monarchists could respect the decorum and history she represented. Charles, by contrast, lacks that same aura. His ascension to the throne seems like more of a formality than a triumph, and his coronation has been described as underwhelming and lackluster. Without the drama and spectacle that Americans associate with royal events, it’s hard for Charles to capture the public’s attention.
On the other hand, Americans cannot look away from Donald Trump. Despite his legal troubles, criminal investigations, and polarizing behavior, his name dominates the media cycle. Trump’s ability to thrive in the chaos of controversy is part of what makes him so compelling to his supporters and frustrating to his detractors. The former president has become a master of the media circus, knowing exactly how to leverage scandal to his advantage. His legal issues only seem to bolster his appeal among certain segments of the population, who see him as a victim of a political system they view as corrupt and biased. This ongoing drama only fuels the media frenzy around him, ensuring he remains at the center of American political discourse.
Trump’s influence over the media landscape is undeniable. His every move is covered extensively, and his ability to dominate news cycles with provocative statements and attention-grabbing actions has kept him relevant in the public eye. His poll numbers have consistently risen despite (or perhaps because of) his legal battles, as supporters rally around him and his message of defiance against the establishment. This phenomenon highlights the deepening divide in American politics, where the spectacle of Trump’s legal struggles has become just as important as his policy proposals.
In contrast, King Charles III is viewed by many Americans as little more than a figurehead. The idea of a monarchy that holds no real political power is an anachronism in the eyes of a nation built on democratic principles. While the British monarchy may still hold sway in the UK, for Americans, the monarchy feels distant, almost irrelevant. Charles, unlike Elizabeth, lacks the ability to capture the imaginations of people who are more focused on tangible issues like economic policy, healthcare, and national security. His reign, which many see as a succession of formalities rather than a new chapter in history, struggles to make an impact.
Americans’ disinterest in the monarchy is a symptom of a broader disillusionment with traditional institutions. There is growing skepticism about the role of elites and the power structures that shape society. As Trump continues to exploit the media’s fascination with his legal troubles, he represents a challenge to the old order. His appeal lies in his outsider status, his willingness to challenge the status quo, and his ability to turn the political system on its head. For many, he is the embodiment of rebellion against an entrenched political class that seems out of touch with their concerns.
As the coronation of Charles approaches, it becomes clear that Americans are more captivated by the spectacle of Trump’s political survival than by the pageantry of a foreign monarch’s ascension. While the world watches Charles’s coronation with a sense of history, Americans remain more focused on the drama of their own political circus. In the end, the American fascination with Trump reveals a deeper divide in the country, one where spectacle, defiance, and media manipulation have become more compelling than tradition, history, and the calm dignity of monarchy.
