Hollywood sequels rarely achieve the magic of the original, but “Gladiator II” comes close. Aside from the familiar populist framework of a lone man defying all odds to take on “the system,” there are enough echoes of the original that the new film feels fresh and original.
Moreover, Ridley Scott's blockbuster turned out to be a timely metaphor for Donald Trump's own sequel, which got off to a better start than the original, albeit unintentionally. This time, he won the popular vote, and Trump's recent efforts include his visit to Paris, the appointment of Kash Patel to head the FBI, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's obedient visit to Mar-a-Lago. His visit to Paris attracted attention, and the transition of power became smoother.
Someday Hollywood will realize what most Americans already see: Donald Trump is a gladiator for the American dream.
This is President Trump's “revenge.” Compared to the “Gladiator”-inspired populist uprising, it's tasteful and more satisfying: Trump once again arm-wrestling with Macron and becoming Trudeau's heel-like nanny-state bully. It's going to be the bloody American viewers who don't want to watch or watch him. Appoint bold populists like Patel, Robert Kennedy Jr., and Tulsi Gabbard to lead and overturn politicized government agencies. Did you try to get him involved?
Ancient Rome has always been both an inspiration and a lesson for American leaders. George Washington modeled himself on Cincinnatus in abandoning military power to strengthen civilian government, and frequently quoted the Roman senator Cato, who sacrificed his life to support the Roman Republic. The founders chose the eagle as the national symbol. This was a symbol of the Roman god Jupiter, which was used to represent Roman power.
John Adams and his son John Quincy Adams both admired the Roman orator Cicero. Even more ominously, Abraham Lincoln stage actor and assassin John Wilkes Booth played the role of Mark Antony in an 1864 New York City production of Julius Caesar, and his brother Edwin He played Brutus. And as Booth jumped from the president's chair at Ford's Theater, he screamed, “Sic Semper Tyrannis” These are said to be the words uttered by Brutus when he killed Caesar.
Throughout our nation's history, comparisons between the United States and ancient Rome have focused on the fall of Rome as a warning to the United States. Comparisons range from fiscal mismanagement to widespread military overreach.
Ridley Scott was wrong
So the lessons of Rome are nothing new for the United States. Ridley Scott, who produced and directed “Gladiator II,” talked about the similarities between his film and modern American politics in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, and it's hilarious! — he's spectacularly wrong about both.
Director Scott told The Hollywood Reporter that he modeled the creepy, Machiavellian opportunist brought to life by Gladiator II executive Denzel Washington on Donald Trump.
“He became a very wealthy merchant selling everything to the Roman army, including food, oil, wine, cloth, weapons,” Scott said. “He probably had a million soldiers scattered all over Europe; millionaire So why didn't he do that at the time? [have ambitions toward the throne]“Why not me?” He is also a gangster and very close to Trump.? Smart gangster. He can create chaos and evolve from chaos. ”
Is anyone surprised that Hollywood liberals are missing the point about President Trump in their movies? Ridley Scott interprets it exactly the other way around. The Trump parallel is not a scheming creature of the Roman political swamp, but a hero, a prince who does not bow down to those who seek to crush and kill him. President Trump's rivals, scheming, duplicitous power seekers, are trying to stir up hatred and are whispering in President Trump's ear. Noncompomentis leader.
And what ultimately propelled this young prince to become Rome's populist leader? As we approach the inevitable climactic deathmatch, the gladiator himself repeats the core idea of the first film: “The dream that was Rome.” It is a dangerous republican dream that can only be achieved by taking back power from corrupt, weak leaders and insidious politicians.
“The best revenge”
The gladiator's speech about Rome also applies to modern America. It's about restoring the American Dream and reinventing government by and for the forgotten, not the powerful, the very ideas that bring cheers to Trump rallies.
With that in mind, consider the words of Marcus Aurelius. These are words that are quoted by both the film's protagonists and villains. “The best revenge is to be different from the person who caused the injury.” or “The best revenge is to be different from the person who caused the injury.”
Many of Mr. Trump's enemies, those who are stoking fears that Mr. Trump will use government power to go after his political opponents as Democrats did to Mr. Trump, misunderstand MAGA's “revenge.” Trump reiterated that in a lengthy interview with Kristen Welker on Sunday's “Meet the Meet the Show.” press. “Government institutions that have become corrupt due to the infiltration of politics and have strayed away from their purpose are reformed not by changing politics but by purging politics.
President Trump's revenge is different: to enable allies to expose and reform corruption, and to reduce rather than expand the government's power over its people.
Nothing crushes his hatred like being a great president. “I really want to make this country successful,” Trump told Kristen Welker. “I don't want to go back to the past. I aim to make our country successful. Retribution is through success. If we can make this country successful, that will be my greatest achievement. , that would be a very nice accomplishment. Bring it back.”
Victory over all forces against President Trump in 2024 is just the beginning of a sequel. This is where the real fun begins. Someday Hollywood will realize what most Americans already see: Donald Trump is a gladiator for the American dream.
Editor's note: This article was originally published by RealClearPolitics and made available via RealClearWire.
