Music, the old saying goes, soothes the savage beast.
But in the case of failed one-term former president Donald Trump, it seems that music provides insight into the bizarre and troubled mind of the disgraced ex-head of state, not to mention suggesting that his taste in music is a mix of the sublime and the absurd.
Axios recently got access to some of the Donald’s closest friends who hang out with him at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, and they revealed that Trump is fond of switching into his alter ego, “Deejay T.”
As expected, even when he’s spinning tunes, Trump insists on being treated like a potentate.
Whether Trump’s in office or out, there’s an unchanging patio scene at Mar-a-Lago. The regulars all know each other, and feel free to drop by Trump’s table.
- “There’s sometimes a velvet rope next to Trump’s chair. But it more signifies his throne of honor than keeping anyone away. Members tell him how great he’s doing. He’ll often show them a printout of a poll that shows him as the greatest.”
Donald also controls the volume of the music, which is usually ear-shatteringly loud, perhaps to compensate for the age of him and his guests.
“Trump shakes hands as people pass his table near the front. After dinner, he’ll open his iPad and play the hits. Sometimes it’s so loud that people have trouble talking. He marvels at the sound quality filling the garden.”
And what exactly does the disgraced former president play from that iPad? The playlist may surprise you.
- It’s Trump’s golden oldies: “Phantom of the Opera” … “Jesus Christ Superstar” … and Elvis, including “Suspicious Minds.” Plus “Hello” by Lionel Ritchie … Guns N’ Roses’ “November Rain” … and the duet by James Brown and Luciano Pavarotti, “It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World.”
- Sinéad O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U” is a favorite. REM snuck in a couple of weeks ago. Elton John’s another favorite.
The only bad thing about letting Trump be DJ? He almost never changes any of the songs, which must be maddening for anyone who wants to see some new tunes added to the rotation.
“He has been playing the same tunes for eight years and never tires of it — even when others beg him to change the station or follow the teleprompter.”
Granted, there’s no accounting for taste when it comes to what we like in music. But Trump’s choices are more than just eclectic. They seem to suggest something darker and more malignant: An unwillingness to change, no matter the consequences.
Oh, and there’s also this, and it has nothing to do with what tunes he spins: The man is an asshole. No matter what you think of his musical preferences, he’s a clear and present danger to the American republic.
