President Waldo

Innocently starting off as a comedic relief on a popular London television series that brashly discussed politics, Waldo, an animated blue bear, was an instant hit with his provocative statements, inappropriate behavior, and lewd gestures. Waldo became an overnight sensation when he repeatedly tracked down Liam Monroe, a middle-aged man running for Parliament and mercilessly badgered him about recent headlines depicting revealing photos of himself. As Waldo’s popularity drastically increases, Jamie, the talent behind the animation, becomes increasingly annoyed with the disrespectful antics and Waldo’s overwhelming consumption of his life. As management steers Waldo in a more violent and confrontational manner, Jamie leaves the bear’s grasp and ultimately tries to take control of his life. Presumably over the next few years, the face of Waldo was depicted on every screen in Times Square as the United States falls under Waldo’s dictatorship.

 Coincidentally, this bares a spine-chilling resemblance to the 2016 Presidential Election. Like Waldo, Donald Trump, arguably the most popular yet controversial candidate in the election unfortunately bares a strikingly eerie resemblance to the popular animation. Famously spewing out heavily ostracized views on immigration, Trump seemed to bring out the millions of Americans who ridiculously agreed with his hate filled rhetoric, reminding us all that not every American citizen wants or is willing to accept a “melting pot” as the United States is known for. Numerous times at Trump rallies, hundreds of protestors were often attacked by Trump supporters, whether it involved race, gender, or even mental disabilities. With Trump dictating commands from the top of the podium such as “I’d like to punch him in the face,” many supporters took it literally and things often turned violent quickly.

Mocking disabled reporters along with having a new mother escorted out when her newborn baby began to cry, it is hard to imagine the reason for supporting such a loose cannon. When faced with the question, many supporters never fully gave a valid reason for their support, only simply muttering the disrespectful campaign slogan, “Make America Great Again.” So far eerily foreshadowing this election, it is almost necessary to wander if the end of President-Elect Trump’s four-year term will also resemble the end of “The Waldo Effect.” Today the current President, Barack Obama, is seemingly calling for a clear mind and open heart when it comes to accepting the new President-Elect; however, these calls for plea drastically contradict the fact that he spent several months bashing Trump before he shocked the nation and won the election. No one knows for certain what is going to happen under Trump’s reign as President. Will the country fall into another Depression? Unfortunately, only time will tell.