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Pledging the Trump Fraternity Pledging the Trump Fraternity
(about 4 hours later)
Gainesville, Fla. — It was homecoming weekend for the Florida Gators, and everyone seemed relieved to trade one American blood sport (politics) for a less psychically poisonous one (college football). But the election crept in, thanks to inspiration from Donald J. Trump’s vulgar boast from 2005. A hand-painted banner hung in front of one frat house read, “Grab Mizzou by the TIGER.”Gainesville, Fla. — It was homecoming weekend for the Florida Gators, and everyone seemed relieved to trade one American blood sport (politics) for a less psychically poisonous one (college football). But the election crept in, thanks to inspiration from Donald J. Trump’s vulgar boast from 2005. A hand-painted banner hung in front of one frat house read, “Grab Mizzou by the TIGER.”
Three weeks before the presidential election, both campaigns have been zipping around Florida, from Pensacola to Miami, vying for the state’s precious 29 Electoral College votes. Polling here remains tight in the race between Hillary Clinton and Mr. Trump, but Democrats seem to have built up a ground game advantage. In 2012, President Obama won Florida by about 74,000 votes. Since then, the Florida Democratic Party has submitted 177,000 new voter registration forms, compared with fewer than 13,000 forms submitted by the state Republican Party.Three weeks before the presidential election, both campaigns have been zipping around Florida, from Pensacola to Miami, vying for the state’s precious 29 Electoral College votes. Polling here remains tight in the race between Hillary Clinton and Mr. Trump, but Democrats seem to have built up a ground game advantage. In 2012, President Obama won Florida by about 74,000 votes. Since then, the Florida Democratic Party has submitted 177,000 new voter registration forms, compared with fewer than 13,000 forms submitted by the state Republican Party.
Last Friday, Stafford Jones, the chairman of the Alachua County Republicans, sat in a Gainesville volunteer office while his small dog snuffled around his desk. He said that pollsters’ turnout models might not factor in previously disengaged voters who will be voting for Mr. Trump.Last Friday, Stafford Jones, the chairman of the Alachua County Republicans, sat in a Gainesville volunteer office while his small dog snuffled around his desk. He said that pollsters’ turnout models might not factor in previously disengaged voters who will be voting for Mr. Trump.
“It is not out of the realm of possibility that everybody that thinks that Hillary Clinton has got this sewn up is completely wrong,” he said.“It is not out of the realm of possibility that everybody that thinks that Hillary Clinton has got this sewn up is completely wrong,” he said.
Mr. Trump’s supporters remain undaunted. At a rally at an airport in Lakeland, Fla., last Wednesday, the crowd of Trump fans walked back to their cars in a light drizzle. A popular new item at the merchandise tables were T-shirts with a Minion from the movie “Despicable Me,” with text below reading “Deplorable Me.”Mr. Trump’s supporters remain undaunted. At a rally at an airport in Lakeland, Fla., last Wednesday, the crowd of Trump fans walked back to their cars in a light drizzle. A popular new item at the merchandise tables were T-shirts with a Minion from the movie “Despicable Me,” with text below reading “Deplorable Me.”
Francely Mombrun, a student at Polk State College, and two friends were huddled under an umbrella, holding Trump signs. The women, who are African-American, said they felt that they stood out in the largely white crowd. They weren’t Trump supporters; they were just there to experience the scene for themselves.Francely Mombrun, a student at Polk State College, and two friends were huddled under an umbrella, holding Trump signs. The women, who are African-American, said they felt that they stood out in the largely white crowd. They weren’t Trump supporters; they were just there to experience the scene for themselves.
“A lot of people here, they kept touching us and saying, ‘Congratulations, you guys are making the right choice,’ ” Ms. Mombrun said. “I didn’t want to tell people that I wasn’t a supporter because I didn’t want to get attacked or something.”“A lot of people here, they kept touching us and saying, ‘Congratulations, you guys are making the right choice,’ ” Ms. Mombrun said. “I didn’t want to tell people that I wasn’t a supporter because I didn’t want to get attacked or something.”
Nearby, Alexandra Holland, an 18-year-old high school student, was standing with her younger brother, who said he would vote for Mr. Trump if he was old enough. When I asked her about the “Access Hollywood” tape, which has helped turn the 2016 election into a lesson in consent, she shrugged.Nearby, Alexandra Holland, an 18-year-old high school student, was standing with her younger brother, who said he would vote for Mr. Trump if he was old enough. When I asked her about the “Access Hollywood” tape, which has helped turn the 2016 election into a lesson in consent, she shrugged.
“In my opinion, we don’t need somebody nice, we need somebody intelligent,” she said. “We’ve all said things we’ve regretted. It was one tiny thing, and I was a little bit offended to start out with, but then I just kind of put it behind me because the good overtakes the bad.”“In my opinion, we don’t need somebody nice, we need somebody intelligent,” she said. “We’ve all said things we’ve regretted. It was one tiny thing, and I was a little bit offended to start out with, but then I just kind of put it behind me because the good overtakes the bad.”
In an interview with CNN on Monday, Melania Trump said her husband was “egged on” by Billy Bush to brag about grabbing and kissing women without their consent — because who hasn’t joked about sexual assault to an “Access Hollywood” host to sound cool?In an interview with CNN on Monday, Melania Trump said her husband was “egged on” by Billy Bush to brag about grabbing and kissing women without their consent — because who hasn’t joked about sexual assault to an “Access Hollywood” host to sound cool?
Bree Molnar and Caitlyn Morsch, students at nearby Southeastern University, a Christian liberal arts college, were also at the rally and seemed to share Ms. Trump’s inclination to play down the importance of the “Access Hollywood” tape. Ms. Molnar was wearing a Hillary for Prison T-shirt she’d bought at the rally. A man walked up to the two young women, holding out his phone.Bree Molnar and Caitlyn Morsch, students at nearby Southeastern University, a Christian liberal arts college, were also at the rally and seemed to share Ms. Trump’s inclination to play down the importance of the “Access Hollywood” tape. Ms. Molnar was wearing a Hillary for Prison T-shirt she’d bought at the rally. A man walked up to the two young women, holding out his phone.
“Can you do me a favor?” he said. “For my Facebook, I need another Hillary for Prison shirt.” Ms. Molnar obliged and posed for a photo with him.“Can you do me a favor?” he said. “For my Facebook, I need another Hillary for Prison shirt.” Ms. Molnar obliged and posed for a photo with him.
I asked them about the Trump tape, and the women lit up; they’d spent the car ride to the rally talking about it.I asked them about the Trump tape, and the women lit up; they’d spent the car ride to the rally talking about it.
“I honestly think it’s ridiculous. It was years ago. How many times have women let men talk to them that way?” Ms. Molnar said.“I honestly think it’s ridiculous. It was years ago. How many times have women let men talk to them that way?” Ms. Molnar said.
There is a fraternal order of Trump supporters, mostly made up of the white men who constitute the hard core of his base. Like other fraternities, Delta Kappa Trump has its own status symbols, code words and initiation ceremonies and pledges of allegiance. And, like any insular group, the Fraternal Order of Trump, when faced with allegations, circles the wagons ever tighter. After all, if you don’t have your brother’s back in his time of need, why should he have yours?There is a fraternal order of Trump supporters, mostly made up of the white men who constitute the hard core of his base. Like other fraternities, Delta Kappa Trump has its own status symbols, code words and initiation ceremonies and pledges of allegiance. And, like any insular group, the Fraternal Order of Trump, when faced with allegations, circles the wagons ever tighter. After all, if you don’t have your brother’s back in his time of need, why should he have yours?
Among Florida’s actual frat boys, it is clear that the election has divided them just as it has divided pretty much everyone else. On fraternity row at the University of Florida, almost every member I talked to had reluctantly made up his mind to vote for Trump or Clinton. Many of them had considered voting for Gary Johnson at one point, before deciding it would be a waste.Among Florida’s actual frat boys, it is clear that the election has divided them just as it has divided pretty much everyone else. On fraternity row at the University of Florida, almost every member I talked to had reluctantly made up his mind to vote for Trump or Clinton. Many of them had considered voting for Gary Johnson at one point, before deciding it would be a waste.
Cade Jarrard, a freshman pledge, sat on one of the many couches that filled his fraternity’s common room. In the background, a flat-screen TV showed an old episode of “South Park.” Mr. Jarrard is a registered Republican, but he said he would be “reluctantly” voting for Mrs. Clinton this year to keep Mr. Trump out of office.Cade Jarrard, a freshman pledge, sat on one of the many couches that filled his fraternity’s common room. In the background, a flat-screen TV showed an old episode of “South Park.” Mr. Jarrard is a registered Republican, but he said he would be “reluctantly” voting for Mrs. Clinton this year to keep Mr. Trump out of office.
“I just think he would be an awful president and an awful role model for the country,” he said.“I just think he would be an awful president and an awful role model for the country,” he said.
Jonathan Acosta, a sophomore, was relaxing in the same fraternity house as Mr. Jarrard. Before Mr. Trump announced his presidential run, Mr. Acosta used one of his quotes (“something about dreaming big”) in his high school yearbook. But this year, he’ll vote for Mrs. Clinton without hesitation. He said Mr. Trump’s supporters don’t understand how hard it already is for people like his parents — who immigrated to the United States from Colombia — to make it here.Jonathan Acosta, a sophomore, was relaxing in the same fraternity house as Mr. Jarrard. Before Mr. Trump announced his presidential run, Mr. Acosta used one of his quotes (“something about dreaming big”) in his high school yearbook. But this year, he’ll vote for Mrs. Clinton without hesitation. He said Mr. Trump’s supporters don’t understand how hard it already is for people like his parents — who immigrated to the United States from Colombia — to make it here.
“As soon as he started his presidential campaign, one of the first things he said was the thing about Mexicans being drug criminals and stuff like that, and then” — he snapped his fingers — “right away I was turned off.”“As soon as he started his presidential campaign, one of the first things he said was the thing about Mexicans being drug criminals and stuff like that, and then” — he snapped his fingers — “right away I was turned off.”
Will Thomasson, a junior accounting major, will be voting for Mr. Trump. He and his parents rooted for Marco Rubio in the primary, but he thinks Mr. Trump is more trustworthy than Mrs. Clinton, and his tax plan is “more realistic.”Will Thomasson, a junior accounting major, will be voting for Mr. Trump. He and his parents rooted for Marco Rubio in the primary, but he thinks Mr. Trump is more trustworthy than Mrs. Clinton, and his tax plan is “more realistic.”
He added that the coverage of Mr. Trump’s 2005 remarks, and the ensuing allegations from women saying Mr. Trump groped them, has been “a little harsh.”He added that the coverage of Mr. Trump’s 2005 remarks, and the ensuing allegations from women saying Mr. Trump groped them, has been “a little harsh.”
“I think the media is kind of overblowing it,” he said. “Yes, he said something vulgar, but he just happened to be recorded in that time. People say vulgar things all the time.”“I think the media is kind of overblowing it,” he said. “Yes, he said something vulgar, but he just happened to be recorded in that time. People say vulgar things all the time.”
Cullen Powers, barefoot, sporting shaggy hair and a Led Zeppelin T-shirt, was sitting on the stoop of, Kappa Alpha, a historically Christian conservative fraternity with a few of his brothers. Cullen Powers, barefoot, sporting shaggy hair and a Led Zeppelin T-shirt, was sitting on the stoop of Kappa Alpha, a historically Christian conservative fraternity with a few of his brothers.
He said he supported Mr. Trump in the Republican primary. He argued that Democrats have tricked minorities into voting for them over the past 60 years by offering handouts, calling it “new-age racism.”He said he supported Mr. Trump in the Republican primary. He argued that Democrats have tricked minorities into voting for them over the past 60 years by offering handouts, calling it “new-age racism.”
“They have less jobs, less job opportunities, and it’s because they’ve been given all of these subsidies,” he said.“They have less jobs, less job opportunities, and it’s because they’ve been given all of these subsidies,” he said.
Mr. Powers had no qualms about Mr. Trump’s declaring a $916 million loss in his 1995 tax returns, which could have allowed him to not pay taxes for years afterward.Mr. Powers had no qualms about Mr. Trump’s declaring a $916 million loss in his 1995 tax returns, which could have allowed him to not pay taxes for years afterward.
“Being able to manipulate the tax code is the sign of a great businessman,” he said.“Being able to manipulate the tax code is the sign of a great businessman,” he said.
In front of a house farther up fraternity row, Jordan Roth and Shehzad Maniar were blissfully throwing a football around before pausing to oblige a reporter with election talk.In front of a house farther up fraternity row, Jordan Roth and Shehzad Maniar were blissfully throwing a football around before pausing to oblige a reporter with election talk.
Both men said they supported Senator Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primary, and while Mr. Maniar has settled on voting for Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Roth’s mind seems to change every day.Both men said they supported Senator Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primary, and while Mr. Maniar has settled on voting for Mrs. Clinton, Mr. Roth’s mind seems to change every day.
“I was going to vote for Gary Johnson, most likely, and then I just did some more research and realized that he’s an idiot, too,” Mr. Roth said. “I’ll either vote for Hillary or write in Ken Bone.”“I was going to vote for Gary Johnson, most likely, and then I just did some more research and realized that he’s an idiot, too,” Mr. Roth said. “I’ll either vote for Hillary or write in Ken Bone.”
If Mr. Trump loses the election — and he is already arguing that the entire United States electoral system is “rigged” against him — he may leave the political stage, but the questions his candidacy has raised will not. Not just Mr. Trump’s candidacy, but his entire guiding philosophy, has for decades been built on a toxic idea of masculinity.If Mr. Trump loses the election — and he is already arguing that the entire United States electoral system is “rigged” against him — he may leave the political stage, but the questions his candidacy has raised will not. Not just Mr. Trump’s candidacy, but his entire guiding philosophy, has for decades been built on a toxic idea of masculinity.
After the election is over, men — liberal and conservative — might use this as an opportunity not just to pat themselves on the back for not being Mr. Trump, but to wonder when, at one time in their lives, they have played the role of Billy Bush.After the election is over, men — liberal and conservative — might use this as an opportunity not just to pat themselves on the back for not being Mr. Trump, but to wonder when, at one time in their lives, they have played the role of Billy Bush.
Mr. Roth, the undecided voter, said that if conversations he and his fraternity brothers had were recorded, it would be probably sound worse than the “Access Hollywood” tape.Mr. Roth, the undecided voter, said that if conversations he and his fraternity brothers had were recorded, it would be probably sound worse than the “Access Hollywood” tape.
“You’re right. That’s why I’m not running for president of the United States,” Mr. Maniar, his fraternity brother, responded.“You’re right. That’s why I’m not running for president of the United States,” Mr. Maniar, his fraternity brother, responded.
“If someone were to scroll through our group chat —”“If someone were to scroll through our group chat —”
“It would be bad.”“It would be bad.”