The Indomitable Trump? National Review’s Flawed Attempt to Whitewash a Legacy of Corruption

National Review’s recent article, titled “The Indomitable Trump,” attempts to cast Donald Trump as a resilient and unyielding figure in American politics. The piece leans on anecdotes and symbolic moments, such as an obscure historical incident involving a man named Richard Lawrence aiming a pistol at a congressional funeral, to frame Trump’s defiance as almost heroic. But beneath this veneer lies a glaring refusal to confront the actual record of Trump’s administration—a record riddled with corruption, assaults on democratic norms, and a blatant disregard for the rule of law.

The article’s framing is a classic example of how some conservative outlets seek to recast Trump’s legacy, focusing on personal toughness while glossing over the systemic damage wrought by his leadership. Trump’s tenure was marked by an unprecedented abuse of presidential powers, from weaponizing the pardon system to shield cronies and January 6 rioters, to orchestrating attempts to undermine free and fair elections. National Review’s piece sidesteps these critical realities, instead offering a sanitized narrative that dangerously normalizes authoritarian impulses.

Why does this matter now? Because narratives shape public perception and influence political accountability. When a major conservative publication whitewashes Trump’s conduct, it undermines efforts to hold him and his allies responsible. It also emboldens the continuation of corrupt and anti-democratic practices under the guise of strength and resilience.

At Only Clowns Are Orange, we reject this revisionism. We track and expose the full scope of Trump’s abuses—from ICE’s human rights violations to his administration’s entanglements with foreign powers. The “indomitable” label should not be a badge of honor for evading accountability. Instead, it should remind us of the urgent need to confront and dismantle the authoritarian and corrupt systems Trump helped entrench.

For those committed to preserving democracy and demanding transparency, the stakes could not be higher. Don’t be fooled by narratives that glorify toughness over truth. The real story of Trump’s legacy is one of corruption and democratic erosion—and we will keep holding it to account.