Rube Goldberg and Trump’s Comeback
In today’s unpredictable political climate, maybe we can just let ourselves “do something fun.” One way to view this is through a cartoonist’s unique take on Donald Trump’s 2024 political resurgence, which he’s depicted as a convoluted contraption.
Rube Goldberg, born on July 4, 1883, is known for his intricate chain reactions—ball drops, lever tilts, cats jumping, and napkins eventually wiping a chin. It’s almost as if his whimsical style has infused American politics over the last few years.
Consider the self-manipulating napkin:
From the moment Trump’s challenges began in 2020 up to November 2024, many in the media and the Democratic establishment seemed to believe they had a straightforward plan: sequentially indict Trump, like a line of dominoes. The idea was that once they knocked down the first domino, the rest would follow—resulting in Trump stepping back, his supporters waning, leading to his ineligibility for office or worse, imprisonment.
Democrats relied on that domino theory, but real life turned out to be more like a Rube Goldberg machine—full of unpredictability and perhaps divine intervention.
As things unfolded, Democrats’ strategies didn’t quite pan out as hoped.
Instead of an orderly collapse of events, we witnessed a chaotic sequence—more like a series of unexpected twists than a simple domino effect. As I discuss in my 2023 book:
Life often resembles an unpredictable game, where one event leads to a chain of bizarre consequences we couldn’t foresee. We make our moves, and through various unseen circumstances, astounding outcomes unfold.
That certainly seems to be the case here. The Democrats, believing in their domino strategy, ended up instead unraveling a Rube Goldberg machine full of twists and turns.
Trump’s Transformative Moment
In the summer of 2024, a particularly striking moment occurred in Butler, Pennsylvania. Instead of falling victim to an assassination attempt, Trump emerged and rallied, shouting “Fight, fight, fight!” This moment sparked a surge of excitement across the nation.
Even odd headlines about fast-food drive-throughs or bizarre campaigns didn’t overshadow the spirit of that moment, as everything seemed to contribute to a whirlwind of events reminiscent of a Rube Goldberg scenario.
I found myself reflecting on courtroom dramas. Even attempts at physical harm against Trump backfired. What those in opposition really set in motion was a series of events that, paradoxically, could pave the way for Trump’s return to power.
Meanwhile, Rube Goldberg might just be spinning in his grave at the irony.
The Chain Reaction Perspective
From another viewpoint, the lesson seems clearer: “All things work together for good to those who love God” (Romans 8:28). What often confuses us is that amid such events, there’s a greater plan at work. He’s orchestrating circumstances, guiding the narrative.
Those who pinned their hopes on a domino effect learned that life’s events can be just as tangled and unexpected as a Rube Goldberg device—and underpinned by some providence.
This isn’t the end. More surprises await us. The real question isn’t whether the machine is still in motion, but whether you’ll find yourself on the winning side when the dust settles.
