The Semantics of Donald Trump

One reason Donald E. Trump can't possibly win the next election is his unfortunate name. It was changed from his ancestral family name (Drumpf) in the 1600's, Americanized, one assumes, for the sake of assonance. But although Trump may sound more melodic than Drumpf, it bears strong overtones of loss and defeat.
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Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump gestures during a rally in Richmond, Va., Friday, June 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump gestures during a rally in Richmond, Va., Friday, June 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

One reason Donald E. Trump can't possibly win the next election is his unfortunate name. It was changed from his ancestral family name (Drumpf) in the 1600's, Americanized, one assumes, for the sake of assonance. But although Trump may sound more melodic than Drumpf, it bears strong overtones of loss and defeat.
Take the word itself. In bridge, a trump is a wild card, which certainly describes Donald, but the highest card played can be a No Trump, which hardly suggest victory or acceptance.
The words that rhyme with Trump are even more unfortunate, indeed a gold mine for political rivals. For example, Dump Trump. Bump Trump. Hump Trump. Jump Trump. Lump Trump. Trump has mumps. Sump-Pump Trump. Trump is a Frump. Kick Trump in the Rump. And so forth.
I suggest that Donald Trump change his name to something a little less vulnerable and dismissive. Like Sykes (rhymes with Bikes, Hikes, and Likes) or Coates (rhymes with Dotes, Floats, and Votes).

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