This Week on the Internet: Donald Trump

Last week, on Wed. Nov. 4, Donald Trump was named the 72nd most powerful person in the world by Forbes just under Prime Minister Trudeau’s position at 69. This is the first time a Canadian prime minister has placed on this list, but once again Trump has captured the public’s attention in a variety of ways.

Joshua Feuerstine is an up and coming social media evangelist and public figure; as of the morning of Tues. Nov. 10, he now has a direct connection to the Trump campaign. Originally, this article was going to be about the Feuerstine’s campaign, which asks fans of Christmas to give the name “Merry Christmas” when placing their Starbucks order, but that could have been a passing trend on its own (even with 14M views). The controversy arises from the fact that some people are concerned that Starbucks has subtracted all Christmas imagery from their coffee cups. There was also the possibility of covering the Trump SNL scenario all on its own, but by the time you read this maybe it would get stale. Then it happened.

“Maybe we should boycott Starbucks, I don’t know…” said Donald Trump on the night of Mon. Nov. 9 at a political rally in Springfield, Illinois. Ellen Sparling a Guelph resident was quick to note that regardless of Trump’s comments, she had already been boycotting Starbucks for some time.

“I’ve been boycotting Starbucks for years now,” said Sparling.

In an unexpected twist, the two biggest stories on the internet (sorry, Trudeau) have metaphorically gotten in bed together and created this conglomerate. The Trump/Starbucks story is trending atop the Facebook news list and within 12 hours has been reported on by Time, Fox, LA Times, CBC, CNN, Gawker, CBSN, The Washington Post, Buzzfeed Politcs and the Toronto Star among others.

“If I become president, we’re all going to be saying Merry Christmas again, that I can tell you,” said Trump. Sat. Nov. 7 Donald Trump hosted Saturday Night Live. Prior to the show, during and immediately after “Trump/SNL” was at the top of Facebook’s trending news. On the afternoon of Nov. 9, folks in Guelph opened up about their thoughts on Trump’s hosting gig.

“It would be awesome,” said Russell K., an Honours student studying Psychology at the U of G. “He’s a highly political candidate on there, but he’s also got the entertainment background so, I think it will be pretty good. He’s also very controversial right now.”

Donald Trump is indeed controversial right now, so much so that when he was hosting SNL people gathered outside NBC Studios protest. Ales Arzensek, a Guelph based writer and comedian, opened up saying that Trump hosting SNL “sounds like it would be a funny time. He says a lot of stupid things, and is arrogant, and makes jokes in general.”

“I read about it, I didn’t watch it,” said Daniel a fourth year psychology student at the U of G. “From what I saw and heard there was a lot of outrage.”

To David Chartrand, “The Donald” hosting SNL is just beyond the scope of possibility.

“Is it real,” said David Chartrand in the Arts and Science program. “Unless I actually saw it happen that’s my reaction to that. I just don’t see him as funny person.”

Donald Trump continues to be on top of the polls regardless of the rolling controversy that surrounds his campaign. His prep team is wired in to what folks are talking about and this is reflected throughout the nomination process. For a less controversial cameo, perhaps check out Trump in The Fresh Prince of Bel Air circa 1994.