--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It has become commonplace to call Trump a…" description: "\"It has become commonplace to call Trump a reality TV star. That is said as an aspersion, the way Ronald Reagan was called an actor. But Reagan's acting..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24a/richard-cohen-5202_acting_it-has-become-commonplace-to-call-trump_2295060.jpg" --- # It has become commonplace to call Trump a reality TV star… ![“It has become commonplace to call Trump a reality TV star. That is said as an aspersion, the way Ronald Reagan was called an actor. But Reagan's acting experience, his ability to talk to the camera and not yell to the hall, is what helped make him such a good politician. It is the same with Trump.” quote by Richard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24a/richard-cohen-5202_acting_it-has-become-commonplace-to-call-trump_2295060.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24a/richard-cohen-5202_acting_it-has-become-commonplace-to-call-trump_2295060.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/24a/richard-cohen-5202_acting_it-has-become-commonplace-to-call-trump_2295060.jpg) > “It has become commonplace to call Trump a reality TV star. That is said as an aspersion, the way Ronald Reagan was called an actor. But Reagan's acting experience, his ability to talk to the camera and not yell to the hall, is what helped make him such a good politician. It is the same with Trump.” [Richard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cohen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Political charisma can stem from performance skills, making actors‑turned‑politicians effective leaders. **In simple terms:** Acting skills help politicians connect. Key Takeaway Leverage communication talent in leadership. Themes politics media performance Mood analytical critical Type political observational When to use this quote - campaign speeches - debates - media interviews - public appearances Key Concepts public perception authenticity leadership style Questions to Reflect On - Can performance outweigh substance? - How does audience perception shape legitimacy? A Different Perspective Charisma may mask lack of policy depth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Experience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/experience/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Reality tv](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality-tv/) ## Related quotes > [American populist politics has a long tradition, from Andrew Jackson to Huey Long to Joseph McCarthy. But the politician Trump is most like could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-reid/american-populist-politics-has-a-long-tradition-from-andrew-jackson/) [Joy Reid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-reid/) > [ \[Ronald Reagan\] called the image of \[George\] Washington praying on his knees in Valley Forge "the most sublime image in American history." ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kengor/ronald-reagan-called-the-image-of-george-washington-praying-on-his/) [Paul Kengor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kengor/) > [The death Saturday of actor Charlton Heston has elicited tributes from many quarters including Nancy Reagan who called him 'an American hero,' President Bush,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-meyers/the-death-saturday-of-actor-charlton-heston-has-elicited-tributes/) [Seth Meyers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-meyers/) > [Basically, we all just had to live in the Trump reality television show, and now we're kind of stuck there for at least four…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/van-jones/basically-we-all-just-had-to-live-in-the-trump-reality-television/) [Van Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/van-jones/) > [One of the reasons that people are so fascinated by Jared Kushner is that he has had no role at all in anything close…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-ellison/one-of-the-reasons-that-people-are-so-fascinated-by-jared-kushner-is/) Sarah Ellison > [Now that President Trump is a reality, I happily have been giving him a chance to see how he does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/now-that-president-trump-is-a-reality-i-happily-have-been-giving-him/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [We're talking about nuclear war with North Korea. We're talking about Russia. Does it feel like the world has shifted? Are we all just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-r-clapper/we-re-talking-about-nuclear-war-with-north-korea-we-re-talking-about/) [James R. Clapper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-r-clapper/) > [Even a good politician, someone who is very ambitious, chooses not to see trouble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-sarsgaard/even-a-good-politician-someone-who-is-very-ambitious-chooses-not-to/) [Peter Sarsgaard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-sarsgaard/) > [I don't see Sarah Palin suddenly spilling over to a wider group where suddenly they go, "Wait a minute, I've heard her message, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-levinson/i-don-t-see-sarah-palin-suddenly-spilling-over-to-a-wider-group-where/) [Barry Levinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-levinson/) > [I don't know if I am a very good politician. I'm not a good hater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-xenophon/i-don-t-know-if-i-am-a-very-good-politician-i-m-not-a-good-hater/) [Nick Xenophon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-xenophon/) > [A good politician is quite as unthinkable as an honest burglar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/a-good-politician-is-quite-as-unthinkable-as-an-honest-burglar/) [H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/) > [If I have to beat you up to keep you safe, thats just what Ill do. Its this kind of regard for others that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/if-i-have-to-beat-you-up-to-keep-you-safe-thats-just-what-ill-do-its/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [All the politics in the world are nothing else but a kind of analysis of the quantity of probability in casual events, and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-arbuthnot/all-the-politics-in-the-world-are-nothing-else-but-a-kind-of-analysis/) [John Arbuthnot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-arbuthnot/) > [Politics is different, because the mission is always to get the necessary votes. A good politician goes through everything in terms of mission and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/politics-is-different-because-the-mission-is-always-to-get-the/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [I suppose it's part of being a good politician to be able to spot the most important men in any group without outside assistance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leslie-ford/i-suppose-it-s-part-of-being-a-good-politician-to-be-able-to-spot-the/) [Leslie Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leslie-ford/) ## More by Richard Cohen > [Republicans remain silent because Trump is doing what they want - lowering taxes on the rich, eviscerating regulations, bulldozing the environment, and insisting that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cohen/republicans-remain-silent-because-trump-is-doing-what-they-want/) [Richard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cohen/) > [Myths have a certain staying power because, really, they are aspirational - not always who we are, but always who we want to be.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cohen/myths-have-a-certain-staying-power-because-really-they-are/) [Richard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cohen/) > [We are a segmented society, living in our individual bubbles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cohen/we-are-a-segmented-society-living-in-our-individual-bubbles/) [Richard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cohen/) > [Maybe the best example of the unmuscled hero is Humphrey Bogart in 'Casablanca.' Bogart was 15 years older than Ingrid Bergman, and it did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cohen/maybe-the-best-example-of-the-unmuscled-hero-is-humphrey-bogart-in/) [Richard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cohen/) > [Israel may be beloved, but for American security, it is not essential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cohen/israel-may-be-beloved-but-for-american-security-it-is-not-essential/) [Richard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cohen/) > [We grow up to respect the gray. Black or white, one or the other, is childish. It represents the worldview of someone who does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cohen/we-grow-up-to-respect-the-gray-black-or-white-one-or-the-other-is/) [Richard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cohen/) > [The ultimate question is whether the name Donald Trump will be attached to an era - whether he will so change America that it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cohen/the-ultimate-question-is-whether-the-name-donald-trump-will-be/) [Richard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cohen/) > [When I was a kid, I went door to door in my neighborhood asking for donations to the Jewish National Fund, best known then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cohen/when-i-was-a-kid-i-went-door-to-door-in-my-neighborhood-asking-for/) [Richard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cohen/) > [I met Clinton during her husband's first campaign for the White House. It was 1992, New Hampshire, and both Clintons had stopped at a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cohen/i-met-clinton-during-her-husband-s-first-campaign-for-the-white-house/) [Richard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cohen/) > [In power politics, it's usually not enough to be liked. A nation has to be considered essential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cohen/in-power-politics-it-s-usually-not-enough-to-be-liked-a-nation-has-to/) [Richard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cohen/) > [Heroism is a matter of choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cohen/heroism-is-a-matter-of-choice/) [Richard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cohen/) > [My father was raised in an orphanage, and my mother was an immigrant from Poland whose first childhood memory was of hunger. Somehow, despite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cohen/my-father-was-raised-in-an-orphanage-and-my-mother-was-an-immigrant/) [Richard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cohen/) > [It's all right with me if Roman Polanski is freed by the Swiss authorities who have detained him at the request of the United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cohen/it-s-all-right-with-me-if-roman-polanski-is-freed-by-the-swiss/) [Richard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cohen/) > [“The book is warm. The book is handy. The book is handsome to the eye. The book occupies the shelf of the owner and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cohen/the-book-is-warm-the-book-is-handy-the-book-is-handsome-to-the-eye/) [Richard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cohen/) > [I don't like what George Zimmerman did, and I hate that Trayvon Martin is dead. But I also can understand why Zimmerman was suspicious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cohen/i-don-t-like-what-george-zimmerman-did-and-i-hate-that-trayvon-martin/) [Richard Cohen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cohen/) [Explore all 102 Richard Cohen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cohen/) ## More Acting quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) > [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/) [Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/) > [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/) [Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/) > [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/) [Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) > [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/) Ryan Newman > [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/) [Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/) > [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/) [Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/) > [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/) [Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/) > [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/) [Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/) [Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It has become commonplace to call Trump a reality TV star. That is said as an aspersion, the way Ronald Reagan was called an actor. But Reagan's acting experience, his ability to talk to the camera and not yell to the hall, is what helped make him such a good politician. 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