---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Like the others though,[Donald] Trump…"
description: "\"Like the others though,[Donald] Trump thrives when he has a clear enemy.\" — Chuck Todd"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6df/chuck-todd-2739_clear_like-the-others-though-donald-trump-thri_2406756.png"
---

#  Like the others though,\[Donald\] Trump thrives when he has…

![“Like the others though,&#91;Donald&#93; Trump thrives when he has a clear enemy.” quote by Chuck Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6df/chuck-todd-2739_clear_like-the-others-though-donald-trump-thri_2406756.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6df/chuck-todd-2739_clear_like-the-others-though-donald-trump-thri_2406756.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6df/chuck-todd-2739_clear_like-the-others-though-donald-trump-thri_2406756.png)

> “Like the others though,\[Donald\] Trump thrives when he has a clear enemy.”

[Chuck Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-todd/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Observation that a political figure gains strength by defining a clear adversary, highlighting the power of opposition in rallying support.

**In simple terms:** Clear enemies boost political momentum.

Key Takeaway

Beware of divisive tactics.

Themes

politics leadership enemy framing

Mood

analytical cautious

Type

political commentary

When to use this quote

- campaign speeches
- media analysis
- public rallies

Key Concepts

strategic communication populism

Questions to Reflect On

- What are the risks of defining a single enemy?
- How can leaders unite without scapegoating?

A Different Perspective

Reliance on enemies can polarize society.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear/) [Clear Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear-enemy-6045252/) [Donald trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/donald-trump/) [Enemy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enemy/) [Like Donald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-donald/) [Thrive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thrive/) [Thrives Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thrives-clear-6045251/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Trump Thrives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump-thrives-3906360/)

## Related quotes

> [“Make sure that the road is always clear for your enemy to leave’?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-mccall-smith/make-sure-that-the-road-is-always-clear-for-your-enemy-to-leave/)

[Alexander McCall Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-mccall-smith/)

> [Trump thrives on spite, vengeance and public humiliation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-capehart/trump-thrives-on-spite-vengeance-and-public-humiliation/)

[Jonathan Capehart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-capehart/)

> [We need more bold fighters like Donald Trump.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-robinson/we-need-more-bold-fighters-like-donald-trump/)

[Mark Robinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-robinson/)

> [The other theory of the case - and it's not just one that people opposed to him politically believe, but also people who share…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hayes/the-other-theory-of-the-case-and-it-s-not-just-one-that-people/)

[Chris Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hayes/)

> [I'd rather have a genius like Donald Trump running America than someone like Hillary Clinton.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudy-giuliani/i-d-rather-have-a-genius-like-donald-trump-running-america-than/)

[Rudy Giuliani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudy-giuliani/)

> [Nobody could like Donald Trump, surely, except his mother. No one really likes The Donald. But how can you not have respect for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-dennis/nobody-could-like-donald-trump-surely-except-his-mother-no-one-really/)

[Felix Dennis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-dennis/)

> [The establishment? Well, guess what? Donald Trump now is the establishment. His primary opponents, many of them are interviewing for White House gigs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-todd/the-establishment-well-guess-what-donald-trump-now-is-the/)

[Chuck Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-todd/)

> [ I think it's basically the same game, although with a public figure like \[Donald\] Trump I think you are bound to consider the public… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-saunders/i-think-it-s-basically-the-same-game-although-with-a-public-figure/)

[George Saunders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-saunders/)

> [ \[Possible Attorney General\] that's a discussion I'd like to have with \[Donald Trump\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-stephanopoulos/possible-attorney-general-that-s-a-discussion-i-d-like-to-have-with/)

[George Stephanopoulos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-stephanopoulos/)

> [You have to be able to say what people are thinking but won't say. It's like Donald Trump.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/russell-simmons/you-have-to-be-able-to-say-what-people-are-thinking-but-won-t-say-it/)

[Russell Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/russell-simmons/)

> [One of the benefits of having a disruptor like Donald Trump in the Oval Office was his ability to see things differently and challenge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-waltz/one-of-the-benefits-of-having-a-disruptor-like-donald-trump-in-the/)

[Michael Waltz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-waltz/)

> [How do the same evangelicals who incessantly force-feed us their morals and family values manage to overwhelmingly support someone like Donald Trump?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-kasparian/how-do-the-same-evangelicals-who-incessantly-force-feed-us-their/)

[Ana Kasparian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-kasparian/)

> [I guess I've maintained my hair. I'm like a Donald Trump. I have a good, solid head of hair, and that's been my trademark…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-avalon/i-guess-i-ve-maintained-my-hair-i-m-like-a-donald-trump-i-have-a-good/)

[Frankie Avalon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-avalon/)

> [Trump is not just unlike a Republican, he's unlike a presidential candidate. The whole elaborate presidential process is designed to screen out people like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-frum/trump-is-not-just-unlike-a-republican-he-s-unlike-a-presidential/)

[David Frum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frum/)

> [People with long memories and a vivid sense of the past have an immediate understanding of politicians like Donald Trump. They are not surprised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-jamieson/people-with-long-memories-and-a-vivid-sense-of-the-past-have-an/)

[Dale Jamieson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-jamieson/)

## More by Chuck Todd

> [Tim Ryan does not look like the 21st century democratic party. And should that matter?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-todd/tim-ryan-does-not-look-like-the-21st-century-democratic-party-and/)

[Chuck Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-todd/)

> [Does the terror threat we're facing grow out of a perversion of Islam, or does it represent and extreme, but durable, strain of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-todd/does-the-terror-threat-we-re-facing-grow-out-of-a-perversion-of-islam/)

[Chuck Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-todd/)

> [ \[Donald Trump\] even quoted a tweet from a self-identified 16-year-old as a way to justify crazy unsupported claims about the popular vote. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-todd/donald-trump-even-quoted-a-tweet-from-a-self-identified-16-year-old/)

[Chuck Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-todd/)

> [ There isn't but this is, in some ways, perhaps, a useful distraction from other things, giving \[Donald Trump\] more space to make his decisions… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-todd/there-isn-t-but-this-is-in-some-ways-perhaps-a-useful-distraction/)

[Chuck Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-todd/)

> [Barack Obama was better as a campaigner than as a - as a president sometimes in this same position. It is easier when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-todd/barack-obama-was-better-as-a-campaigner-than-as-a-as-a-president/)

[Chuck Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-todd/)

> [Democrats will say the money they give to Planned Parenthood does not go to abortions. That the money they give to Planned Parenthood only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-todd/democrats-will-say-the-money-they-give-to-planned-parenthood-does-not/)

[Chuck Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-todd/)

> [As the saying goes, when you're a hammer, everything looks like a nail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-todd/as-the-saying-goes-when-you-re-a-hammer-everything-looks-like-a-nail/)

[Chuck Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-todd/)

> [The more there is scandal and corruption in Washington, the better it is for McCain, so he's at a high point right now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-todd/the-more-there-is-scandal-and-corruption-in-washington-the-better-it/)

[Chuck Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-todd/)

> [Folks, some of these town halls are clearly organized. But, regardless, there are potential warning signs that Republicans perhaps shouldn't ignore.We heard Democrats dismiss…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-todd/folks-some-of-these-town-halls-are-clearly-organized-but-regardless/)

[Chuck Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-todd/)

> [America has a love-hate relationship with celebrity. We love to follow celebrities, but we also love to mock them. And secretly, we believe we're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-todd/america-has-a-love-hate-relationship-with-celebrity-we-love-to-follow/)

[Chuck Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-todd/)

> [ \[Barack Obama\] was comfortable when he had the foil. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-todd/barack-obama-was-comfortable-when-he-had-the-foil/)

[Chuck Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-todd/)

> [ One could argue \[Bob\] Corker has been more supportive of \[Donald\] Trump's foreign policy skepticism of the establishment than anybody else. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-todd/one-could-argue-bob-corker-has-been-more-supportive-of-donald-trump-s/)

[Chuck Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-todd/)

> [One of the more bizarre games I played as a kid was something called 'kill the man.' It was a cross between football and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-todd/one-of-the-more-bizarre-games-i-played-as-a-kid-was-something-called/)

[Chuck Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-todd/)

> [Despite the fact that David Petraeus is now very highly regarded in foreign policy circles because of his record in both Republican and Democratic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-todd/despite-the-fact-that-david-petraeus-is-now-very-highly-regarded-in/)

[Chuck Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-todd/)

> [The establishment? Well, guess what? Donald Trump now is the establishment. His primary opponents, many of them are interviewing for White House gigs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-todd/the-establishment-well-guess-what-donald-trump-now-is-the/)

[Chuck Todd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-todd/)

[Explore all 152 Chuck Todd quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-todd/)

## More Clear quotes

> [Self-respect and a clear conscience are powerful components of integrity and are the basis for enriching your relationships with others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/self-respect-and-a-clear-conscience-are-powerful-components-of/)

[Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/)

> [When I came to Chelsea, it was clear that, like many other players, I would first be loaned out. So I went to Belgium…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thorgan-hazard/when-i-came-to-chelsea-it-was-clear-that-like-many-other-players-i/)

[Thorgan Hazard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thorgan-hazard/)

> [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I think, here's what I've realized from interviewing people, and I've been very open about my Catholicism and my love of Christ and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-mohr/i-think-here-s-what-i-ve-realized-from-interviewing-people-and-i-ve/)

[Jay Mohr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-mohr/)

> [If the audience likes your work, if they like you, they don't think whether you are married or have children or not. I made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dimple-kapadia/if-the-audience-likes-your-work-if-they-like-you-they-don-t-think/)

[Dimple Kapadia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dimple-kapadia/)

> [The thing about hitting kids is, think about if you were doing the same thing to another adult. Hitting your kid is really the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-braff/the-thing-about-hitting-kids-is-think-about-if-you-were-doing-the/)

[Zach Braff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-braff/)

> [Where I grew up, learning was a collective activity. But when I got to school and tried to share learning with other students that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-giroux/where-i-grew-up-learning-was-a-collective-activity-but-when-i-got-to/)

[Henry Giroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-giroux/)

> [Clear moments are so short. There is much more darkness. More ocean than terra firma. More shadow than form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-zagajewski/clear-moments-are-so-short-there-is-much-more-darkness-more-ocean/)

[Adam Zagajewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-zagajewski/)

> [I try to listen to all music with an open head, a clear head, try not to say just because I don't know it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ghostface-killah/i-try-to-listen-to-all-music-with-an-open-head-a-clear-head-try-not/)

[Ghostface Killah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ghostface-killah/)

> [God's Word does provide life lessons to teach us how to live. And it gives us beautiful poetry that gives voice to our human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-rothschild/god-s-word-does-provide-life-lessons-to-teach-us-how-to-live-and-it/)

[Jennifer Rothschild](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-rothschild/)

> [ We have no clear ideas of the agency of \[demonic\] spirits, nor is it necessary. The Scripture says little to satisfy our curiosity; but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-newton/we-have-no-clear-ideas-of-the-agency-of-demonic-spirits-nor-is-it/)

[John Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-newton/)

> [I've always made it clear that I do not believe that global government is either necessary or feasible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-strong/i-ve-always-made-it-clear-that-i-do-not-believe-that-global/)

[Maurice Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-strong/)

> [The moment it begins to question itself, the mind becomes so clear that it starts working with itself rather than with the body's identification.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/byron-katie/the-moment-it-begins-to-question-itself-the-mind-becomes-so-clear/)

[Byron Katie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/byron-katie/)

> [Alec Wilkinson is a spare, clear, and lucid writer who works in stylistic simplicity with material that is not simple at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-matthiessen/alec-wilkinson-is-a-spare-clear-and-lucid-writer-who-works-in/)

[Peter Matthiessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-matthiessen/)

> [ I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect \[Donald Trump\], or then-president \[Barack Obama\]. But it's - I'm very clear.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mattis/i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-that-by-the-president-elect/)

[James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mattis/)

[Browse all 7,410 Clear quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Like the others though,[Donald] Trump thrives when he has a clear enemy.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Chuck Todd"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-todd/like-the-others-though-donald-trump-thrives-when-he-has-a-clear-enemy/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Clear"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-todd/like-the-others-though-donald-trump-thrives-when-he-has-a-clear-enemy/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6df/chuck-todd-2739_clear_like-the-others-though-donald-trump-thri_2406756.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6df/chuck-todd-2739_clear_like-the-others-though-donald-trump-thri_2406756.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6df/chuck-todd-2739_clear_like-the-others-though-donald-trump-thri_2406756.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Like the others though,[Donald] Trump thrives when he has a clear enemy.” — Chuck Todd",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Chuck Todd",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-todd/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "Like the others though,[Donald] Trump thrives...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-todd/like-the-others-though-donald-trump-thrives-when-he-has-a-clear-enemy/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-todd/like-the-others-though-donald-trump-thrives-when-he-has-a-clear-enemy/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
