A Guide to Surviving the Trump Era

Published in Le Devoir
(Canada) on 13 May 2025
by William Perry (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Soeli Leverett. Edited by Michelle Bisson.
President Donald Trump has announced that he will order his government to reopen and extend Alcatraz, the famous former prison with a sad history situated on an island close to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. He declared that the reopening of Alcatraz, which once had a reputation for being one of the strictest prisons in the U.S., would be a “symbol of law, order, and justice.”*

One reason why Trump makes so many people uncomfortable: Every day, he waves the fear of uncertainty under our noses. He brings turbulence. Whether or not we like Trump, he reminds us that we have no idea what will happen tomorrow, or even in a minute.

“No idea what will happen next” reminds me of the case of the Anglin brothers, men of the Great Depression who committed multiple bank robberies and just as often escaped. Finally, their crimes caught up with them, and the federal government sent them to Alcatraz, which was supposedly inescapable.

Finding comfort in the unknown is not glorious. On the contrary, it allows you to channel your strength and be completely honest about the moment. Although Trump creates more uncertainty every day, I have stopped searching for certainty when there isn’t any. I take a deep breath. I realize and accept that there are many “maybes” in life, and if Trump wins, will I tighten my belt? Absolutely. But I will also allow myself the pleasure of imagining Trump at Alcatraz in a newly refurbished presidential suite.

*Editor’s note: This quote, accurately translated, could not be independently verified.


Guide de survie à l’ère Trump

Le président Donald Trump a annoncé qu’il ordonnerait à son gouvernement de rouvrir et d’agrandir Alcatraz, l’ancienne prison tristement célèbre située sur une île près du pont Golden Gate de San Francisco. La réouverture d’Alcatraz, autrefois réputée pour être l’une des prisons les plus dures des États-Unis, serait un « symbole de loi, d’ordre et de justice », a-t-il déclaré.

L’une des raisons pour lesquelles Donald Trump met tant de gens mal à l’aise : il nous met chaque jour sous le nez notre peur de l’incertitude. Il nous apporte des turbulences. Que l’on aime Trump ou pas, il nous rappelle que nous n’avons aucune idée de ce qui se passera demain ou même dans la minute qui suit.

« Aucune idée de ce qui va se passer ensuite » me rappelle le cas des frères Anglin, des hommes de la Grande Dépression qui avaient commis de nombreux petits vols de banque et s’étaient tout aussi souvent évadés. Finalement, leurs crimes les ont rattrapés et le gouvernement fédéral les a envoyés à Alcatraz, réputée être à l’épreuve des évasions.

Trouver du réconfort dans l’inconnu n’a rien de glorieux. Au contraire, cela permet de canaliser sa force et d’être pleinement honnête sur le moment. Bien que Trump crée chaque jour davantage d’incertitude, j’ai arrêté de chercher la certitude quand il n’y en a pas. Je respire profondément. Je réalise et j’accepte que la vie comporte de nombreux « peut-être ». Et si Trump obtient gain de cause, est-ce que je bouclerai ma ceinture ? Absolument. Mais je m’autoriserai aussi le plaisir d’imaginer Trump à Alcatraz dans une suite présidentielle nouvellement aménagée.
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