News

A Rich White Man Is Bemoaning A Rigged System

by Morgan Brinlee

When questioned about his repeated claims the election was "rigged" against him during the third and final presidential debate, Republican nominee Donald Trump refused to say whether he'd accept the outcome of the election. As unprecedented as it is for a presidential candidate to question the legitimacy of the U.S. election system, Trump's refusal to budge from his charge the election is being stolen from him was hardly a surprise. However, there's a certain irony to a straight, white, male billionaire arguing the system is rigged against him.

Trump's claim his campaign losses are the result of "stolen" or "rigged" elections are hardly new. He accused former Republican presidential hopeful Texas Sen. Ted Cruz of stealing the Iowa primary from him in February. "Ted Cruz didn't win Iowa, he stole it," Trump tweeted. "That is why all of the polls were so wrong and why he got far more votes than anticipated. Bad!" He went on to argue that Cruz's Iowa delegates should be canceled and a new primary should be held in the state "based on the fraud committed by Senator Ted Cruz."

When Trump began slipping in general election polls (a result of a 2005 tape showing Trump making lewd and predatory comments about women and allegations of sexual misconduct from multiple women) Trump once again turned to suggesting the whole thing was "rigged" against him. This time, it was the media, working in cahoots with Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, to take him down through character assassination and what he has deemed large-scale voter fraud.

Yet the absurdity of a wealthy, white, straight male bemoaning a rigged system hasn't been lost on social media users, many of whom pointed out the irony of Trump's claim during the final presidential debate.

There Were Those Who Pointed To The Job's Long History Of Being Filled By Men

Remember when Trump claimed Clinton just didn't have that "presidential look?" What qualifies as a "presidential look" when the role has only ever been filled by a man?

There Were Those Quick To Remind Trump Of His Privilege

It's amazing to think Trump is arguing he's a victim of a "rigged" system in a country with a Congress that's 80 percent white and 80 percent male.

There Were Those Who Felt A Photo Of Trump Could Replace The Definition Of White Privilege In The Dictionary

Hey, Merriam-Webster are you hearing this?

There Were Those Who Just Thought The Whole Thing Was Absurd

There Were Those Who Agreed The System Is Rigged

Just not against white wealthy straight men like Trump.

There Were Those Who Questioned If Trump's Attitude Was A Result Of How Established White Privilege Is In America

What's behind Trump's failure to comprehend the fact that he can't always be a winner?

There Were Those Looking For Answers

Who may find themselves waiting for a long, long time.

As absurd as Trump's claim the election is being "rigged" against him may sound, it's resonating with many of his supporters, the majority of whom are white according to an analysis by the Atlantic. A reported 81 percent of Trump supporters said they believed Trump's warning that widespread voter fraud could steal the election from him, a Politico/Morning Consult poll found. Yet Trump's accusation the election is "rigged" could have a disastrous impact on the nation long after polls close on Nov. 8.