type here...

A Guide to Surviving the Trump Era

773
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.
This post appeared on the front page as a direct link to the original article with the above link .

Hot this week

Block title

India: Why Every New US-Iran ‘Deal’ Feels Like the Boy Who Cried Wolf

. Published in Firstpost

If diplomacy were an action movie, the clock would have been stuck on 0:01 seconds for the last three months.

0

Israel: Defensible Borders and American Guarantees

. Published in Israel Hayom

Transparency and mutual trust are necessary in relations, but playing both sides is undignified in friendly relations between allies.

0

Japan: US-Japan-Coordinated Intervention: Structural Conversion of Weak Yen Is Essential

. Published in Tokyo Shimbun

[A] weak yen and rising interest rates have continued even further, with the primary cause being the increase in crude oil prices due to U.S. attacks on Iran.

0

Luxembourg: The Middle East Is Getting Away from Trump: No Solutions in Sight for Conflicts in the Region

. Published in Tageblatt

In the end, the U.S. will probably have made the entire Middle East even more unstable than it already was.

0

Jordan: American-Sunni Alliance

. Published in assawsana

The Iranian axis, so to speak, is working to curb American influence — not to prove that the Shia are right or the Sunnis are wrong.

0

Topics

Venezuela: Trump’s ‘Ego-Politics’: Why Does the US Prioritize Venezuela in Latin America?

. Published in Correo del Caroni

The main reason why the U.S. administration prioritizes Caracas over Havana lies in the nature of the interests at stake.

0

Spain: US Interference in Colombia*

. Published in El País

0

Luxembourg: The Middle East Is Getting Away from Trump: No Solutions in Sight for Conflicts in the Region

. Published in Tageblatt

In the end, the U.S. will probably have made the entire Middle East even more unstable than it already was.

0

Jordan: American-Sunni Alliance

. Published in assawsana

The Iranian axis, so to speak, is working to curb American influence — not to prove that the Shia are right or the Sunnis are wrong.

0

Austria: Karoline Leavitt: Nothing but Trump’s Truth, with God as Her Witness

. Published in Der Standard

Leavitt did not merely fill the role; she burst its bounds, just as Trump shattered the traditional limits of the presidency.

0

Japan: US-Japan-Coordinated Intervention: Structural Conversion of Weak Yen Is Essential

. Published in Tokyo Shimbun

[A] weak yen and rising interest rates have continued even further, with the primary cause being the increase in crude oil prices due to U.S. attacks on Iran.

0

Saudi Arabia: Is Trump Redefining the Relationship with Israel?

. Published in Asharq Al-Awsat

[These changes] reflect a deeper transformation in the concept of American national interest after two decades of wars in the region.

0

Israel: Defensible Borders and American Guarantees

. Published in Israel Hayom

Transparency and mutual trust are necessary in relations, but playing both sides is undignified in friendly relations between allies.

0

Related Articles

Austria: Karoline Leavitt: Nothing but Trump’s Truth, with God as Her Witness

. Published in Der Standard

Leavitt did not merely fill the role; she burst its bounds, just as Trump shattered the traditional limits of the presidency.

Saudi Arabia: Is Trump Redefining the Relationship with Israel?

. Published in Asharq Al-Awsat

[These changes] reflect a deeper transformation in the concept of American national interest after two decades of wars in the region.

Israel: Defensible Borders and American Guarantees

. Published in Israel Hayom

Transparency and mutual trust are necessary in relations, but playing both sides is undignified in friendly relations between allies.

India: Why Every New US-Iran ‘Deal’ Feels Like the Boy Who Cried Wolf

. Published in Firstpost

If diplomacy were an action movie, the clock would have been stuck on 0:01 seconds for the last three months.

Austria: Trump: Anything Goes?

. Published in Der Standard

The damage Nixon inflicted on democracy was minimal compared to Trump's rampage.

Previous article
Trump Prioritizes Commerce over Shared Values in Foreign Policy Gamble
Next article
Trump’s Offer and Trump’s Sword

Watching America is seeking VOLUNTEER TRANSLATORS age 18+ to translate foreign opinion pieces about the United States into U.S. English. If you are committed to translation and have an interest in current events, here is an unbeatable chance to perfect your art, publish your work and build your resume.
Watching America is not AI. Our language team provides high-quality, hands-on translation that brings foreign opinion about the United States to readers around the world. This is what sets us apart.
Some translation experience is preferred but not required. All applicants will be asked to translate a test article. We prefer native or near-native English skills. You will be expected to find and translate at least one article every two weeks.

Contact Us: info@watchingamerica.com

Watching America

Make a once-a-year donation to Watching America here

© All rights reserved for Watching America 2024

Copyright © 2024 Developed by Hashthink