--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The real question is not what's wrong…" description: "\"The real question is not what's wrong with Trump, what's up with Trump, but what's up with the establishment.\" — Rush Limbaugh" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cb/rush-limbaugh-28_establishment_the-real-question-is-not-what-s-wrong-wi_3076409.jpg" --- # The real question is not what's wrong with Trump, what's… ![“The real question is not what's wrong with Trump, what's up with Trump, but what's up with the establishment.” quote by Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cb/rush-limbaugh-28_establishment_the-real-question-is-not-what-s-wrong-wi_3076409.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cb/rush-limbaugh-28_establishment_the-real-question-is-not-what-s-wrong-wi_3076409.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cb/rush-limbaugh-28_establishment_the-real-question-is-not-what-s-wrong-wi_3076409.jpg) > “The real question is not what's wrong with Trump, what's up with Trump, but what's up with the establishment.” [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The focus should shift from criticizing Trump to examining the broader political establishment that enables him. **In simple terms:** Look beyond Trump to the system that supports him. Key Takeaway Question the power structures behind leaders. Themes politics leadership media establishment critique Mood critical analytical Type political commentary When to use this quote - election analysis - media criticism - civic education - policy debate Key Concepts power dynamics public discourse accountability Questions to Reflect On - What systemic factors sustain political power? - How can citizens hold establishments accountable? A Different Perspective Blaming a single figure oversimplifies complex systemic issues. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Establishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/establishment/) [Question Wrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/question-wrong-795010/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real questions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-questions/) [Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump/) [Trump Establishment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump-establishment-808746/) [Trump Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trump-trump-271692/) [Wrong Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong-trump-5227732/) ## Related quotes > [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/) > [ Talking about \[Donald\] Trump, there's nothing wrong with Trump. He's who he is. It's wrong with us, who let him \[win\]. That's what's wrong.… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marina-abramovic/talking-about-donald-trump-there-s-nothing-wrong-with-trump-he-s-who/) [Marina Abramovic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marina-abramovic/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ It's \[Ted\] Cruz and \[Donald\] Trump until the establishment or unless the establishment figures rally around one person. I still think the best person… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-ingraham/it-s-ted-cruz-and-donald-trump-until-the-establishment-or-unless-the/) [Laura Ingraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-ingraham/) > [I tell Donald Trump that the establishment will tell their lies. They will try to keep him down. I tell him, 'Now Mr. Trump,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-king/i-tell-donald-trump-that-the-establishment-will-tell-their-lies-they/) [Don King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-king/) > [My point is Trump is Trump. He's the same guy wherever he is. But the reporting on him on Middle East trip is nowhere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/my-point-is-trump-is-trump-he-s-the-same-guy-wherever-he-is-but-the/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [There are two sides to every question: my side and the wrong side.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-levant/there-are-two-sides-to-every-question-my-side-and-the-wrong-side/) [Oscar Levant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-levant/) > [What's wrong vs Right with you It's not a question of what's wrong with you, it's a question of what's right with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-duncan/what-s-wrong-vs-right-with-you-it-s-not-a-question-of-what-s-wrong/) [Al Duncan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-duncan/) > [Every interview with a public figure should include the question "What have you been wrong about, and how did that change your views?" The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stewart-brand/every-interview-with-a-public-figure-should-include-the-question-what/) [Stewart Brand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stewart-brand/) > [“Question #3: Would being wrong create a better or a worse problem than my current problem, for both myself and others? This”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-manson/question-3-would-being-wrong-create-a-better-or-a-worse-problem-than/) [Mark Manson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-manson/) > [How do I answer the question, what's wrong when nothing is right?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/how-do-i-answer-the-question-what-s-wrong-when-nothing-is-right/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It's hard to answer the question what's wrong? when nothings right……](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-hard-to-answer-the-question-what-s-wrong-when-nothings-right/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“There is always a right answer for every question, even for the wrong ones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-f-moonzajer/there-is-always-a-right-answer-for-every-question-even-for-the-wrong/) [M.F. Moonzajer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-f-moonzajer/) > [If your horse says no, you either asked the wrong question or asked the question wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-your-horse-says-no-you-either-asked-the-wrong-question-or-asked/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I rather live with a right question than a wrong answer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthias/i-rather-live-with-a-right-question-than-a-wrong-answer/) [Matthias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthias/) ## More by Rush Limbaugh > [You can criticize Trump and his wealth all day long, but you can't say he hasn't worked. You can say that about the Clintons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/you-can-criticize-trump-and-his-wealth-all-day-long-but-you-can-t-say/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ I guarantee you \[Hillary Clinton\] is smoking in humiliation over the idea that she needs to heal and that \[Donald\] Trump's the guy to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-guarantee-you-hillary-clinton-is-smoking-in-humiliation-over-the/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [How do you, on the one hand, not object to Hillary Clinton being elected, and then, on the other hand, tell people, "Elect me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/how-do-you-on-the-one-hand-not-object-to-hillary-clinton-being/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ The real leadership of the opposition is never, ever gonna do anything but continue to ramp up efforts to stop \[Donald\] Trump or destroy… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-real-leadership-of-the-opposition-is-never-ever-gonna-do-anything/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [I can't see the Democrats working with Donald Trump on tax reform unless the rich get soaked. The thing about this that should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/i-can-t-see-the-democrats-working-with-donald-trump-on-tax-reform/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [We know from this book entitled... What is it? Surrendered? Succumbed? I can never remember the title perform. And we learn from this book…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-know-from-this-book-entitled-what-is-it-surrendered-succumbed-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Once you convince people that they're victims, you really own them because you've just told them that whatever problems they have in life, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/once-you-convince-people-that-they-re-victims-you-really-own-them/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [We're in more wars today under Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton than under George W. Bush or Ronald Reagan. Yet they tell you that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/we-re-in-more-wars-today-under-barack-obama-and-hillary-clinton-than/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [People from all over the world came to America and assimilated into a single culture rooted in the founding, which is rooted in individual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/people-from-all-over-the-world-came-to-america-and-assimilated-into-a/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [The left wants to transform America away from founding ideals, and this is it. And they know it. And they're doing everything they, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-left-wants-to-transform-america-away-from-founding-ideals-and/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [There's such cultural rot taking place, such a disintegration throughout our culture. Values, morality, you name it. Standards have been relaxed, and people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-s-such-cultural-rot-taking-place-such-a-disintegration/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [There is an all-out assault now on the Christian community in this country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/there-is-an-all-out-assault-now-on-the-christian-community-in-this/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [It doesn't matter to me where Barack Obama goes. If he wants to go to Hawaii because it's his home state, fine! Hunky-dory. Plastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/it-doesn-t-matter-to-me-where-barack-obama-goes-if-he-wants-to-go-to/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [ Four states where \[Democrats\] have the governorship and both houses of the legislature. That's it. They have lost seats. They are not gonna win… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/four-states-where-democrats-have-the-governorship-and-both-houses-of/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) [Explore all 2,819 Rush Limbaugh quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) ## More Establishment quotes > [It is the incongruous thing in my entire life, this isolation.. ... My work requires it - but I myself have no need or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marsden-hartley/it-is-the-incongruous-thing-in-my-entire-life-this-isolation-my-work/) [Marsden Hartley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marsden-hartley/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Jeb Bush was supposed to be the establishment candidate, but he didn't catch on. And the extraordinary thing about this Republican primary is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara-liasson/jeb-bush-was-supposed-to-be-the-establishment-candidate-but-he-didn-t/) [Mara Liasson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara-liasson/) > [The re-establishment of an ecological balance depends on the ability of society to counteract the progressive materialization of values. The ecological balance cannot be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-illich/the-re-establishment-of-an-ecological-balance-depends-on-the-ability/) [Ivan Illich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-illich/) > [Why is it that at a bachelor's establishment the servants invariably drink the champagne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/why-is-it-that-at-a-bachelor-s-establishment-the-servants-invariably/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [How could a readiness for war in time of peace be safely prohibited, unless we could prohibit, in like manner, the preparations and establishments…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/how-could-a-readiness-for-war-in-time-of-peace-be-safely-prohibited/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [The establishment in Britain is certainly against the arts and against education. If something doesn't make a profit, it's invalid, and art doesn't make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-maxwell-davies/the-establishment-in-britain-is-certainly-against-the-arts-and/) [Peter Maxwell Davies](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-maxwell-davies/) > [There are big, extremely irrational parts of the society, and they have now been mobilized politically by the Republican establishment, hoping that these people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/there-are-big-extremely-irrational-parts-of-the-society-and-they-have/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [ It is certain that every class is interested in \[educational\] establishments which give to the human mind its highest improvements, and to every Country… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-madison/it-is-certain-that-every-class-is-interested-in-educational/) [James Madison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-madison/) > [The issue of civil rights was too much for the establishment to handle. One of the chapters of history that's least studied by historians…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-hayden/the-issue-of-civil-rights-was-too-much-for-the-establishment-to/) [Tom Hayden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-hayden/) > [The central base of world political power is right here in America, and it is our corrupt political establishment that is the greatest power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/the-central-base-of-world-political-power-is-right-here-in-america/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [The very first radical known to man who rebelled against the establishment and did it so effectively that he at least won his own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-alinsky/the-very-first-radical-known-to-man-who-rebelled-against-the/) [Saul Alinsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-alinsky/) > [Any change of government which has to be introduced should be one which men, starting from their existing constitutions, will be both willing and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/any-change-of-government-which-has-to-be-introduced-should-be-one/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [One of the things we're all going to have to discover, establishment is just an abusive term for institutions. It's institutions that keep us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-frum/one-of-the-things-we-re-all-going-to-have-to-discover-establishment/) [David Frum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-frum/) > [The law increasing and organizing the military establishment of the United States has been nearly carried into effect, and the Army has been extensively…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-van-buren/the-law-increasing-and-organizing-the-military-establishment-of-the/) [Martin Van Buren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-van-buren/) [Browse all 905 Establishment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/establishment/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The real question is not what's wrong with Trump, what's up with Trump, but what's up with the establishment.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rush Limbaugh" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-real-question-is-not-what-s-wrong-with-trump-what-s-up-with-trump/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Establishment" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-real-question-is-not-what-s-wrong-with-trump-what-s-up-with-trump/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cb/rush-limbaugh-28_establishment_the-real-question-is-not-what-s-wrong-wi_3076409.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cb/rush-limbaugh-28_establishment_the-real-question-is-not-what-s-wrong-wi_3076409.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9cb/rush-limbaugh-28_establishment_the-real-question-is-not-what-s-wrong-wi_3076409.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The real question is not what's wrong with Trump, what's up with Trump, but what's up with the establishment.” — Rush Limbaugh", "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": "Rush Limbaugh", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The real question is not what's...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-real-question-is-not-what-s-wrong-with-trump-what-s-up-with-trump/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/the-real-question-is-not-what-s-wrong-with-trump-what-s-up-with-trump/#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 } } ] } ```