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babylonsister

(172,360 posts)
Sat Jul 26, 2025, 09:57 AM Jul 26

"He turns being artless into an art form; he is a Picasso of pettiness; a Shakespeare of shit."

A friend posted this on FB. Quite delicious and accurate!


Someone asked "Why do some British people not like Donald Trump?"
Nate White, an articulate and witty writer from England, wrote this magnificent response:

"A few things spring to mind.

Trump lacks certain qualities which the British traditionally esteem.

For instance, he has no class, no charm, no coolness, no credibility, no compassion, no wit, no warmth, no wisdom, no subtlety, no sensitivity, no self-awareness, no humility, no honour and no grace - all qualities, funnily enough, with which his predecessor Mr. Obama was generously blessed.

So for us, the stark contrast does rather throw Trump’s limitations into embarrassingly sharp relief.
Plus, we like a laugh. And while Trump may be laughable, he has never once said anything wry, witty or even faintly amusing - not once, ever.

I don’t say that rhetorically, I mean it quite literally: not once, not ever. And that fact is particularly disturbing to the British sensibility - for us, to lack humour is almost inhuman.

But with Trump, it’s a fact. He doesn’t even seem to understand what a joke is - his idea of a joke is a crass comment, an illiterate insult, a casual act of cruelty.

Trump is a troll. And like all trolls, he is never funny and he never laughs; he only crows or jeers.
And scarily, he doesn’t just talk in crude, witless insults - he actually thinks in them. His mind is a simple bot-like algorithm of petty prejudices and knee-jerk nastiness.

There is never any under-layer of irony, complexity, nuance or depth. It’s all surface.

Some Americans might see this as refreshingly upfront.

Well, we don’t. We see it as having no inner world, no soul.

And in Britain we traditionally side with David, not Goliath. All our heroes are plucky underdogs: Robin Hood, Dick Whittington, Oliver Twist.

Trump is neither plucky, nor an underdog. He is the exact opposite of that.

He’s not even a spoiled rich-boy, or a greedy fat-cat.

He’s more a fat white slug. A Jabba the Hutt of privilege.

And worse, he is that most unforgivable of all things to the British: a bully.

That is, except when he is among bullies; then he suddenly transforms into a snivelling sidekick instead.

There are unspoken rules to this stuff - the Queensberry rules of basic decency - and he breaks them all. He punches downwards - which a gentleman should, would, could never do - and every blow he aims is below the belt. He particularly likes to kick the vulnerable or voiceless - and he kicks them when they are down.

So the fact that a significant minority - perhaps a third - of Americans look at what he does, listen to what he says, and then think 'Yeah, he seems like my kind of guy’ is a matter of some confusion and no little distress to British people, given that:

* Americans are supposed to be nicer than us, and mostly are.

* You don't need a particularly keen eye for detail to spot a few flaws in the man.

This last point is what especially confuses and dismays British people, and many other people too; his faults seem pretty bloody hard to miss.

After all, it’s impossible to read a single tweet, or hear him speak a sentence or two, without staring deep into the abyss. He turns being artless into an art form; he is a Picasso of pettiness; a Shakespeare of shit. His faults are fractal: even his flaws have flaws, and so on ad infinitum.
God knows there have always been stupid people in the world, and plenty of nasty people too. But rarely has stupidity been so nasty, or nastiness so stupid.

He makes Nixon look trustworthy and George W look smart.

In fact, if Frankenstein decided to make a monster assembled entirely from human flaws - he would make a Trump.

And a remorseful Doctor Frankenstein would clutch out big clumpfuls of hair and scream in anguish: 'My God… what… have… I… created?

If being a twat was a TV show, Trump would be the boxed set."
35 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
"He turns being artless into an art form; he is a Picasso of pettiness; a Shakespeare of shit." (Original Post) babylonsister Jul 26 OP
Shakespeare of shit SheltieLover Jul 26 #1
"a casual act of cruelty" BootinUp Jul 26 #2
Billy Shakespeare couldn't have said it better orangecrush Jul 26 #3
He makes Nixon look trustworthy and George W look smart Wicked Blue Jul 26 #4
"A Jabba the Hutt of privilege." Best description I've heard. Amaryllis Jul 26 #5
I've seen this several times before. It was true the first time I saw it, and... 3catwoman3 Jul 26 #6
If anybody has EVER nailed trump better than this, I sure as hell haven't seen it. Paladin Jul 26 #7
Spot on! mnhtnbb Jul 26 #8
They need to follow Orrex on a daily basis. twodogsbarking Jul 26 #9
This word lover is laughing at every paragraph NJCher Jul 26 #10
Great post. dalton99a Jul 26 #11
Well said!! Beacool Jul 26 #12
I've read this before, quite some time ago Wednesdays Jul 26 #13
Ouch. rubbersole Jul 26 #14
Shakespeare bmichaelh Jul 26 #15
Or in Macbeth, 4.2.84: Thou liest, thou shag-eared villain! nt Buns_of_Fire Jul 26 #22
Oldie but Goodie, spot-on Martin Eden Jul 26 #16
Best description of Trump I've ever read. And to think it's a British writer who put it on paper! Bravo! Vinca Jul 26 #17
KNR, and bookmarking, so I don't lose it again. niyad Jul 26 #18
Who knew, I'm British mjvpi Jul 26 #19
Quintissential. BobTheSubgenius Jul 26 #20
Nate White is a London copywriter. He answered a Quora question on February 12, 2019 with the reply your OP shows. Celerity Jul 26 #21
I take issue with the emphasis on "certain qualities which the British traditionally esteem." This is a country of Martin68 Jul 26 #23
Preach, brother! Preach! rubbersole Jul 26 #26
babylonsister.......... Upthevibe Jul 26 #24
Reminds me of the Winston Churchill quote: Shipwack Jul 26 #25
accurate and funny pamdb Jul 26 #27
Bookmarking progressoid Jul 26 #28
Highly recommended Picaro Jul 26 #29
Certain US Presidents are or were quite popular with the British FakeNoose Jul 26 #30
K&R mdbl Jul 26 #31
All true markie Jul 26 #32
Bookmarked for use as future ammo. KY_EnviroGuy Jul 26 #33
One of the best descriptions of Trump, ever. nt SunSeeker Jul 27 #34
there we go again being smarty-pants. ELITES! STOP MAKIN FUN OF OUR STUPID PREZNIT! pansypoo53219 Jul 27 #35

Wicked Blue

(8,253 posts)
4. He makes Nixon look trustworthy and George W look smart
Sat Jul 26, 2025, 10:35 AM
Jul 26

The British have such a gift for description

3catwoman3

(27,771 posts)
6. I've seen this several times before. It was true the first time I saw it, and...
Sat Jul 26, 2025, 10:42 AM
Jul 26

...remains so. Exceptionally well written.

Paladin

(31,659 posts)
7. If anybody has EVER nailed trump better than this, I sure as hell haven't seen it.
Sat Jul 26, 2025, 10:47 AM
Jul 26

"He makes Nixon look trustworthy and George W look smart."

Profound thanks and eternal admiration to Nate White.

mnhtnbb

(32,861 posts)
8. Spot on!
Sat Jul 26, 2025, 10:52 AM
Jul 26

This was written for the orange a$$hole's first term.

What blew me away was that after four years of seeing how accurate this assessment was, he could win a second term. How could people not see who he is, or see him for what he is and still vote for him!
We are well and truly fu*ked as a country, and we've done it to ourselves.

NJCher

(41,525 posts)
10. This word lover is laughing at every paragraph
Sat Jul 26, 2025, 11:02 AM
Jul 26

And thanks Babylon sister for posting with a subject line indicating the topic.

“Found on Facebook” never gets a click from me.

This post makes my day!

Beacool

(30,455 posts)
12. Well said!!
Sat Jul 26, 2025, 11:15 AM
Jul 26

I have always despised people like Trump. Dumb bullies who mock and belittle people because at heart they're insecure and know that they are neither as intelligent or successful as they claim to be. Frankly, ever since he bought Mar-a-Lago, and my mother lived nearby, I have disliked him. I can't stand stupid, ignorant people who try to put others down to hide their inadequacies. He's a horrible human being. I will never forgive those who voted for him and foisted this abomination on the rest of the country. A pox on their houses.

Wednesdays

(20,801 posts)
13. I've read this before, quite some time ago
Sat Jul 26, 2025, 11:37 AM
Jul 26

I'm guessing this is at least seven years old. But just as relevant today as ever.

rubbersole

(10,595 posts)
14. Ouch.
Sat Jul 26, 2025, 11:49 AM
Jul 26

When the truth really hurts. America will never get its "shining city on the hill" reputation back. Letting money equal free speech led to this.

bmichaelh

(960 posts)
15. Shakespeare
Sat Jul 26, 2025, 11:55 AM
Jul 26

MENENIUS
There is no more
mercy in him than there is milk in a male tiger.
--Shakespeare, Coriolanus 5.4.28-29

PISANIO
[His] tongue
Outvenoms all the worms of Nile.
--Shakespeare, Cymbeline 3.4.34-35

PORTIA
When
he is best, he is a little worse than a man, and when he
is worst he is little better than a beast.
--Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice 1. 2. 82-84

THERSITES
Idol of idiot-worshippers!
--Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida 5.1.7

Vinca

(52,736 posts)
17. Best description of Trump I've ever read. And to think it's a British writer who put it on paper! Bravo!
Sat Jul 26, 2025, 12:03 PM
Jul 26

BobTheSubgenius

(12,099 posts)
20. Quintissential.
Sat Jul 26, 2025, 12:17 PM
Jul 26

A TOTALLY British take. One could never read that and think anyone other than a Brit had written it.

Celerity

(52,126 posts)
21. Nate White is a London copywriter. He answered a Quora question on February 12, 2019 with the reply your OP shows.
Sat Jul 26, 2025, 12:18 PM
Jul 26

Quora bots deleted the question soon thereafter.

Here is White's profile:



Here is the link to the question:






Here is the earliest link I could find to another site that highlights White's answer (it was posted less than a month after White's Quora answer went up):

British Writer Pens The Best Description Of Trump I’ve Read

March 8, 2019 ~ THE HOBBLEDEHOY

https://thehobbledehoy.com/2019/03/08/british-writer-pens-the-best-description-of-trump-ive-read/



Someone on the question-and-answer website Quora asked “Why do some British people not like Donald Trump?” Nate White, an articulate and witty writer from England wrote the following response:

A few things spring to mind.

Trump lacks certain qualities which the British traditionally esteem.
For instance, he has no class, no charm, no coolness, no credibility, no compassion, no wit, no warmth, no wisdom, no subtlety, no sensitivity, no self-awareness, no humility, no honour and no grace – all qualities, funnily enough, with which his predecessor Mr. Obama was generously blessed.
So for us, the stark contrast does rather throw Trump’s limitations into embarrassingly sharp relief.

Plus, we like a laugh. And while Trump may be laughable, he has never once said anything wry, witty or even faintly amusing – not once, ever.
I don’t say that rhetorically, I mean it quite literally: not once, not ever. And that fact is particularly disturbing to the British sensibility – for us, to lack humour is almost inhuman.

But with Trump, it’s a fact. He doesn’t even seem to understand what a joke is – his idea of a joke is a crass comment, an illiterate insult, a casual act of cruelty.

Trump is a troll. And like all trolls, he is never funny and he never laughs; he only crows or jeers.

And scarily, he doesn’t just talk in crude, witless insults – he actually thinks in them. His mind is a simple bot-like algorithm of petty prejudices and knee-jerk nastiness.

There is never any under-layer of irony, complexity, nuance or depth. It’s all surface.

Some Americans might see this as refreshingly upfront.
Well, we don’t. We see it as having no inner world, no soul.

And in Britain we traditionally side with David, not Goliath. All our heroes are plucky underdogs: Robin Hood, Dick Whittington, Oliver Twist.
Trump is neither plucky, nor an underdog. He is the exact opposite of that.
He’s not even a spoiled rich-boy, or a greedy fat-cat.

He’s more a fat white slug. A Jabba the Hutt of privilege.

And worse, he is that most unforgivable of all things to the British: a bully.
That is, except when he is among bullies; then he suddenly transforms into a snivelling sidekick instead.

There are unspoken rules to this stuff – the Queensberry rules of basic decency – and he breaks them all. He punches downwards – which a gentleman should, would, could never do – and every blow he aims is below the belt. He particularly likes to kick the vulnerable or voiceless – and he kicks them when they are down.

So the fact that a significant minority – perhaps a third – of Americans look at what he does, listen to what he says, and then think ‘Yeah, he seems like my kind of guy’ is a matter of some confusion and no little distress to British people, given that:
• Americans are supposed to be nicer than us, and mostly are.
• You don’t need a particularly keen eye for detail to spot a few flaws in the man.

This last point is what especially confuses and dismays British people, and many other people too; his faults seem pretty bloody hard to miss.
After all, it’s impossible to read a single tweet, or hear him speak a sentence or two, without staring deep into the abyss. He turns being artless into an art form; he is a Picasso of pettiness; a Shakespeare of shit. His faults are fractal: even his flaws have flaws, and so on ad infinitum.
God knows there have always been stupid people in the world, and plenty of nasty people too. But rarely has stupidity been so nasty, or nastiness so stupid.

He makes Nixon look trustworthy and George W look smart.
In fact, if Frankenstein decided to make a monster assembled entirely from human flaws – he would make a Trump.

And a remorseful Doctor Frankenstein would clutch out big clumpfuls of hair and scream in anguish:
‘My God… what… have… I… created?
If being a twat was a TV show, Trump would be the boxed set.

Martin68

(26,514 posts)
23. I take issue with the emphasis on "certain qualities which the British traditionally esteem." This is a country of
Sat Jul 26, 2025, 12:33 PM
Jul 26

football hooligans, the most deprived yellow press in the world, and world-class racism that extends right up into the royal family. Their shit smells just as bad as our does. American liberals have ideals as high as any in England.

Shipwack

(2,865 posts)
25. Reminds me of the Winston Churchill quote:
Sat Jul 26, 2025, 12:49 PM
Jul 26

"He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire"

Minus the virtue part, if course... Since he has none, unless you count a certain instinctive urge for survival at all costs...

FakeNoose

(38,739 posts)
30. Certain US Presidents are or were quite popular with the British
Sat Jul 26, 2025, 02:43 PM
Jul 26

For example they all seemed to think well of Barack Obama, even Queen Elizabeth was quite fond of him. I believe they liked Bill Clinton, at least in his first term as President. They thought Dubya was a clod, but so did we all.

It's easy so see why they dislike and distrust Chump. I'd say that NATE WHITE really nailed it.

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,740 posts)
33. Bookmarked for use as future ammo.
Sat Jul 26, 2025, 11:32 PM
Jul 26

A very elegant dressing-down of one of the world's worse people.

Thank you, babylonsister.........

pansypoo53219

(22,602 posts)
35. there we go again being smarty-pants. ELITES! STOP MAKIN FUN OF OUR STUPID PREZNIT!
Sun Jul 27, 2025, 07:25 AM
Jul 27

we used to look up the president. now we gotta have a beer buddy. or the media craves fame as much as the sheeple. the apprentice was complete bullshit.

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