Racism and sexism? Sure, they play a role—but they’re not the whole story. It’s not just about being Black, Indian, Asian, or female. The real driving force is recognition, marketing, and advertising. Hear me out: Donald Trump has spent years building his image. Before his four years of campaigning, he was in the White House, and even before that, he spent decades promoting himself and crafting a brand. He’s a master of marketing, and he understands one essential truth: visibility matters. Whether his actions are right or wrong, his audience only grows.
You might argue that bad PR is damaging—like when he makes offensive statements or reveals questionable behavior. And yes, that does drive away people who think critically. But let’s be honest: not everyone digs deep to analyze the facts. We’re emotional beings. We see a confident, charismatic figure and make snap judgments. As Joseph Goebbels famously demonstrated, repeating something—even if it’s false—can embed it into our brains, making it easier to accept than new information.
Another concept at play is the “familiarity effect.” The more we see someone, like a favorite Hollywood actor, the more we feel an affinity for them. This is a core marketing strategy. And who has been more omnipresent than Donald Trump? On the flip side, think about Kamala Harris. How visible has she been? About 90 days of campaigning? It’s not a matter of her being a woman or a person of color; it’s about the lack of brand recognition. People gravitate toward what’s familiar, even if it’s not the best option—like choosing McDonald’s over a local burger joint simply because we know what to expect.
Shockingly, some voters didn’t even realize Joe Biden wasn’t on the ticket, or they were unaware of when the election was happening. Yes, we may live in a nation with issues of racism and sexism, but these are underlying factors. What stands out to me is the immense power of marketing. Donald Trump has leveraged it longer and more effectively than anyone else running.
So, what’s the answer? Imagine a campaign led by someone with established star power, like Oprah or Michelle Obama in 2029. Then we’ll see that it’s not just about being a Black woman—it’s about strategic marketing and visibility.
Written by Todd Nation
