Personality Politics and the 2024 Presidential Election: Don’t “Barron Trump” It

Barron Trump is now a freshman at NYU’s Stern School of Business. As news of his enrollment reverberated through campus, student reactions ranged from excitement (I mean, he is the former President’s son) and curiosity, to disapproval. In class, I overheard one student express disappointment that NYU would allow “Trump’s son” to enroll, and watched as her friends nodded in agreement.

I am fairly certain that these students had never spoken with Barron Trump, and therefore had no idea what his personal views are on any particular issue, yet they were quick to judge and dismiss him.  I would like to believe that this sentiment is not widely held on campus, but suspect that unfortunately quick judgments about a person’s assumed political views and character - “Barron Trumping,” as I have decided to call it – is more widespread than it should be.    

This attitude of making quick judgments characterizes the current zeitgeist, in which we overly simplify complex issues by relying on tropes, characterizations and generalizations to assess and evaluate the positions of those around us on a wide range of issues.  

We tend to make assumptions about a person’s views on a spectrum of issues based on their position on a single issue, or if they have not stated a position, by assuming they hold the positions of those they affiliate with. 

This simplifying heuristic avoids having to engage with someone to explore their views, which requires time, effort and a willingness to hear opinions that we may find disagreeable. Without that effort, however, we will continue to be polarized as a society and will close avenues of learning from one another.   

This simple way of thinking has extended to how we evaluate our political candidates. Instead of engaging with their qualifications and policies, and exploring how candidates would handle complex matters in a diverse society, we rely on “Barron Trumping,” and assume we know their policies based on limited information. 

Some would attribute this laziness to mainstream media which is reluctant to ask difficult and probing questions with meaningful follow-up. The media is also “Barron Trumping,” providing us with a neat and simple package of each candidate without delving deeply into their nuanced policy positions. 

Though the rise of social media has granted the public unprecedented access to the personal lives of some of our politicians, it has also, at times, allowed for competency to be overshadowed by charisma. For example, many young voters may find Kamala Harris to be “relatable,” “brat,” “mindful,” and “demure,” terms often seen and heard on social media because her media team has carefully curated that image for her. 

When asked to name some of her policy positions, they draw a blank. Likewise, former president Donald Trump’s persona has overshadowed his policies. During the 2016 election, his at times outrageous, bold, and larger-than-life personality became the focal point of many media outlets, rather than highlighting his policies or lack thereof. Because he appeared arrogant, self-assured, and bold, many assumed he had policies that would be effective. According to research by the Pew Research Center, media coverage of Donald Trump during his 2016 presidential campaign heavily highlighted his personality traits and controversies, rather than highlighting the policies he was proposing. His personality was under heavier scrutiny than his policies. 

What is the risk of personality driven politics, and choosing a candidate based on their perceived traits? Disappointment.

If we elect leaders based on their charisma, empathy and enthusiasm alone, we run the risk of being let down when they are unable to actually deliver results to us on key issues. A study published in Political Psychology reveals that voters who chose to prioritize a candidate's personality over their policy ended up regretting their choice when the candidate they elected underperformed and under-delivered. 

Trump voters experienced this “buyer’s remorse” after his 2016 election - those who had elected Trump based on his persona grew disillusioned (and disappointed) when his policy decisions, like healthcare and trade, did not match their expectations. 

Regret and disappointment are not the only downsides to personality driven politics; it also detracts from meaningful discussions surrounding the policies that will be shaping our lives. When the focus is on personal antics, neuroses or charms of a politician, we grow distant from the real issues at stake, whether that be healthcare reform, economy, climate change and foreign affairs. When we are distracted by personalities that are superficial, we miss out on the policies that will truly have lasting impact. 

In the upcoming election this November, it has never been more essential for us to break free from personality politics. Our candidates are not celebrities; they are public servants who are responsible for implementing and enforcing the policies that will govern our everyday lives. 

We mustn't “Barron Trump” our political candidates this election cycle by evaluating them based on name and persona while ignoring the substantive policies each brings to the table. 

As we approach November 5, let’s not ask ourselves “who is the most charismatic,” or “who has the best outfits.” Instead, what we need to ask ourselves is the following: What will their policies do for our great country? What will their policies do for me? How will their policies impact important issues like our economy, civil rights and healthcare.

It’s time to put the focus back on the policies that shape the future, not the personalities that entertain us today. 

This is a Political Opinion article that reflects the views or opinions of the writer, not The NYU Review at large.