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Robert Ivey's avatar

HaHa. My biggest concern with Trump as a resident of Florida is his outsized influence on our politicians, DeSantis, of course, but then there are Scott and Moody, both Republicans and proudly support Trump's agenda, or so they tell me. Trump resides in Palm Beach County which is Florida's 22nd congressional district. Fortunately this district is held by Lois Frankel a Democrat.

Alan Sharp's avatar

He’s a convicted criminal not my president never will be. Doesn’t deserve the respect he thinks he should have, he’s like an old baby in his school yard ,bullying everybody. Disgusting

Loren's avatar

I love this analogy and agree with it wholeheartedly... Thank you for both the analysis and the smile... Something good in the midst of the current horror show.

Ata's avatar

Amazing. Great read. Well written.

Charlotte's avatar

Love your substack, but I really wish you'd stop using chatGPT in your articles. I want to read your words, not a (water stealing, pollution creating) robot's.

Chase Anderson's avatar

This sounds like the kind of rhetoric that a mentally unstable liberal would use to justify an assassination attempt. I hope it was worth the laugh.

Ray Sullivan MD's avatar

This is fun. Tried CoPilot asking for a metaphorically and satirical version:

"Here’s a playful **Satirical Scientific Essay (SSE)** written in the style of an ecology field report, treating Donald Trump as if he were an invasive species in the political ecosystem:

# 🧪 Field Report: *Homo trumpus invasivus*

### Abstract

This report documents the emergence, spread, and ecological impact of *Homo trumpus invasivus*, a disruptive organism introduced into the American political ecosystem in the early 21st century. Once considered a novelty species confined to entertainment habitats, it has since colonized vast swaths of the political landscape, displacing native fauna and altering the ecosystem’s balance.

### Morphology

- **Distinctive plumage**: Bright orange cranial covering, often mistaken for exotic bird feathers.

- **Vocalizations**: Loud, repetitive calls (“Make America Great Again”) used to attract mates and rally herds.

- **Behavioral traits**: Displays dominance through hand gestures, rallies, and social media bursts.

### Habitat & Range

- **Native habitat**: Television studios, luxury resorts, and real estate developments.

- **Introduced habitat**: Political arenas, where it thrives in high-attention, low-nuance environments.

- **Range expansion**: Rapid spread across rural and urban ecosystems, particularly where discontent and distrust of traditional species are abundant.

### Ecological Impact

- **Displacement of native species**: Traditional politicians (*Politicus normativus*) struggle to compete with its aggressive communication style.

- **Alteration of food webs**: Media organisms, once feeding on policy debates, now subsist largely on scandal and spectacle.

- **Soil disturbance**: Norms and institutions destabilized, leaving fertile ground for imitator species.

### Control & Management

Attempts at eradication (impeachment, electoral defeat, legal challenges) have proven largely ineffective. Like kudzu or zebra mussels, *Homo trumpus invasivus* demonstrates remarkable resilience. Containment strategies remain under study, though some ecologists argue the ecosystem itself has adapted to its presence.

### Conclusion

*Homo trumpus invasivus* exemplifies the characteristics of an invasive species: rapid colonization, disruption of established systems, and resistance to removal. Whether its long-term impact will be ecological collapse or the emergence of a new equilibrium remains uncertain.

Offers to expand were declined, even though I.C.E. would not be an issue for me.....;>)

Ray Sullivan MD's avatar

Out of curiosity I posed the question, metaphorically to Gemini AI and here it is. I like the tongue in cheek version by ChatGPT.

"The metaphorical application of "invasive species" to Donald Trump focuses on characteristics that critics perceive as **disruptive, destabilizing, and corrosive** to established political, social, or diplomatic environments.

---

## 🦠 Key Disruptive and Harmful Metaphors

The analogy highlights several parallels between the effects of a biological invasive species and the perceived impact of his political style and policies:

* **Trophic and Systemic Disruption**

* An invasive species often outcompetes native ones, leading to **functional loss** and a reorganization of the existing **ecosystem** (or, in this case, the **political system**).

* **Metaphorical Harm:** This refers to disrupting established norms, rules, and institutions—like traditional diplomatic protocols, the impartiality of justice agencies, or long-standing alliances. Critics argue this leaves the system less stable and resilient.

* **Rapid, Uncontrolled Spread**

* Invasive species are often characterized by a rapid, unchecked spread (high reproductive and dispersal rates).

* **Metaphorical Harm:** This reflects the rapid, disruptive way his movement and rhetoric have dominated the political landscape, often through unconventional means, quickly displacing established political figures and ideologies.

* **Toxicity and Contamination**

* Some invasive species release toxic compounds or introduce pathogens that harm native populations.

* **Metaphorical Harm:** This refers to the introduction of **rhetoric** that critics view as toxic, such as promoting xenophobic or divisive language, which is seen as "poisoning" the public discourse and social cohesion. It also relates to a perceived indifference to or active dismantling of environmental regulations.

* **Divergence and Failure to Integrate**

* An invasive species does not integrate harmoniously; it fundamentally changes the environment to match its own needs, yielding a community **strongly divergent** from the original.

* **Metaphorical Harm:** This points to his portrayal as a non-native "outsider" who refuses to adapt to or respect the culture and norms of the governmental "ecosystem" (Washington, D.C.). Instead of adapting, the goal is to *change* the environment—the institutions and political culture—to accommodate his unique style and agenda.

This metaphor, therefore, is used to frame his political movement not just as a policy disagreement but as an existential **threat to the health and integrity** of the democratic system itself.

The following video discusses how a prominent politician used this very phrase to describe Donald Trump. [Newsom on Donald Trump as an Invasive Species](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KrRPA0PTFxg)

http://googleusercontent.com/youtube_content/0

Robert Ivey's avatar

HaHa. My biggest concern with Trump as a resident of Florida is his outsized influence on our politicians, DeSantis, of course, but then there are Scott and Moody, both Republicans and proudly support Trump's agenda, or so they tell me. Trump resides in Palm Beach County which is Florida's 22nd congressional district. Fortunately this district is held by Lois Frankel a Democrat.

Linda Vopicka's avatar

Theoretically, we are all an invasive species, as we came after the plants and animals.. to destroy Mother Earth and her environs.