Trump’s second coming is the greatest comeback in US history - How did we not see it coming?

Daily Maverick · 🇿🇦 public South Africa · Nov 13, 2024 · 1141 words · By Jon Foster-Pedley

Institutional Failure Populism Political polarization

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What to know about Institutional Failure

A convicted felon/political persecutee; an avowed misogynist/anti-woke warrior; a liar/anti-mainstream media visionary; a fraudster/victim of deep state conspiracy; a moral and financial bankrupt/brave beacon for truth; and an insurrectionist/courageous…

Claims checked 9

Techniques found 4

Topics 3

Coverage spectrum

Coverage gap: Low Left coverage

Left11%

Center78%

Right11%

9 sources compared across this story cluster. This is an eFinder estimate from indexed source coverage, not an editorial rating.

What happened

Why it matters

It doesn’t seem as if there are enough pejoratives to properly describe the sheer scale of Donald Trump’s perfidy or enough adjectives to encompass his awesomeness – depending on your viewpoint.

Common ground

But whether anyone likes it or not, more than half the American public voted to return Trump to the White House, making him the first Republican president in two decades to win the popular vote as well as the US Electoral College.

Perspective signals

The tension in the story is sharpened by Loaded Language, Appeal to Fear, Black-and-White Fallacy: language that can make the dispute feel more urgent, personal, or adversarial than the underlying facts alone.

Follow-up questions

What new context would change how readers understand this Institutional Failure story?
What evidence would most clearly confirm or weaken the claim that Trump’s rival Kamala Harris?
How does this story connect Institutional Failure with Populism over the next few days?

open_in_new Read the original article: https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2024-11-13-trumps-second-coming-the-…

psychologyPropaganda Techniques Detected

eFinder identified 4 propaganda techniques in this article. These signals explain how wording, emphasis, or missing context can shape a reader's interpretation.

warning

Loaded Language 95% confidence

Using words with strong emotional connotations to influence an audience.

Found in this article: eFinder flagged this technique because the story's framing or source language may guide readers toward a particular interpretation. Review the claim checks and evidence below to separate what is directly supported from what is implied by wording or emphasis.

Why it matters: Recognizing loaded language helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Appeal to Fear 85% confidence

Building support by instilling anxiety or panic in the audience.

Why it matters: Recognizing appeal to fear helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

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Black-and-White Fallacy 80% confidence

Presenting only two options when more exist.

Why it matters: Recognizing black-and-white fallacy helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

warning

Exaggeration / Hyperbole 70% confidence

Overstating facts or claims to create a stronger emotional response.

Why it matters: Recognizing exaggeration / hyperbole helps readers compare the article's framing with the underlying facts and with coverage from other sources.

fact_checkClaims Checked

eFinder analyzed this article and checked 9 claims against available evidence, cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia. Here is what the fact-checking layer found.

info Single Source 3

verified Verified By Reference 2

check_circle Corroborated 2

verified Verified 1

help Insufficient Evidence 1

verified

Claim 1: “Trump’s rival Kamala Harris”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia and news reports explicitly identify Kamala Harris as the opponent/candidate running against Donald Trump in the 2024 election.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Presidential candidates Trump and Harris campaigned in 17 states, excluding their home states, from August to November in the 2024 United States presidential election.[213].
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_United_States_presidentia…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — US election 2024 – live news updates. Full US Senate, House and governor election results. Analysis: the key swing states and counties that handed Trump the White House.illustration of Kamala Harris.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2024/nov/…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Donald J. Trump has won the presidency, improving upon his 2020 performance in both red and blue states and capturing enough swing states to reach 270 Electoral College votes. 226. Kamala Harris.
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/11/05/us/elections/…

check_circle

Claim 2: “Jacob Zuma’s unprecedented success with his MK party.”

CORROBORATED

Multiple sources confirm the MK party's success, specifically noting a 45.93% vote share in KwaZulu-Natal and its role in the 2024 elections.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — In today’s episode, we are joined by, SMWX Legend - Gogo Aubrey Matshiqi, who shares insight into the 2024 election, Jacob Zuma & the MK Party, ANC, EFF & DA...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrT1tRA3HG8

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Jacob Zuma and other MK party officials at press conference under slogan "The People's Mandate" on June 16, 2024. The MK Party has accused the ANC of stealing the election and criticized it for settin…
https://www.dw.com/en/south-africa-zumas-mk-party-to-join-op…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Jacob Zuma Mk party kzn elections.View Map. The charisma of former president Jacob Zuma , policies aimed at accelerating transformation and an unrivalled seduction of the Zulu people, helped the MK pa…
https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/elections/electi…

check_circle

Claim 3: “The Second Coming, written by WB Yeats after the end of World War 1 and the Spanish Influenza”

CORROBORATED

Sources from the Poetry Foundation and literary analysis confirm W.B. Yeats wrote 'The Second Coming' in the wake of World War I and the era's upheaval.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The Second Coming Poem Summary and Analysis - …
https://www.litcharts.com/poetry/william-butler-yeats/the-se…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Poetry Foundation. The Second Coming. Play Audio. By William Butler Yeats.Mere anarchy is loosed upon the worldThe blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/43290/the-second-comi…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — WB Yeats's The Second Coming was written at a momentous time in 20th-century Europe, an era of uncertainty and upheaval in the wake of the first World War and in the teeth of Ireland's independence st…
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/the-second-coming-an-iris…

info

Claim 4: “making him the first Republican president in two decades to win the popular vote as well as the US Electoral College.”

SINGLE SOURCE

While evidence confirms Trump won the Electoral College, there is no specific data in the provided evidence confirming he won the popular vote or that he is the first Republican to do so in 20 years.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Trump won the election over Harris, winning 312 Electoral College votes to Harris' 226.[11] Trump won all of the seven swing states, including the first win of Nevada by a Republican since 2004.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_United_States_presidentia…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Republican President-elect Donald Trump has said his election victory handed him an “unprecedented and powerful” mandate to govern.
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn5w9w160xdo

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Donald J. Trump was the 45th U.S. president. He was elected in November 2016 and served until January 2021.
https://www.history.com/articles/donald-trump

info

Claim 5: “Tuesday, 5 November”

SINGLE SOURCE

The web search results for this claim are generic descriptions of the US and do not mention the specific date of the 2024 election.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The three largest airlines in the world, by total number of passengers carried, are U.S.-based; American Airlines became the global leader after its 2013 merger with US Airways. [405]
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The most known companies are based in US: McDonald's, Apple, Microsoft, Facebook, Google and etc. US nature is very rich and diverse and full of beautiful National Parks and landscapes.
https://ontheworldmap.com/usa/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — 1 day ago · Reuters.com is your online source for the latest US news stories and current events, ensuring our readers up to date with any breaking news developments
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/

verified

Claim 6: “his inauguration in January”

VERIFIED

Multiple sources, including the Financial Express and a US Coast Guard bulletin, confirm that the US presidential inauguration occurs on January 20.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Why January 20? Historically, US presidents were inaugurated on March 4, following Election Day in November. US elections are held every four years. Several stages follow after the election and includ…
https://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2025-01-20-explainer-underst…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Donald Trump Inauguration Full Schedule, Date, Venue, Swearing-in Time, Ticket Online: The US Constitution mandates that the presidential inauguration occurs on January 20 at 12:00 PM ET.
https://www.financialexpress.com/world-news/trump-inaugurati…

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Mayor: US Coast Guard Marine Safety Information Bulletin for Presidential Inauguration. Tuesday, January 14, 2025.(WASHINGTON, DC) – On Monday, January 20, 2025, at 12:00 pm the Presidential Inaugurat…
https://www.defconalerts.com/p/what-to-know-about-the-60th-u…

verified

Claim 7: “Donald Trump is about to become the 47th president of the United States of America.”

VERIFIED BY REFERENCE

Wikipedia and the official White House website both explicitly state that Donald Trump is the 47th President of the United States.

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — 45th & 47th President of the United States.Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Trump

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — Donald J. Trump. 45th & 47th President of the United States.President Trump is also an accomplished author. He has written more than fourteen bestsellers. His first book, The Art of the Deal, is consi…
https://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/donald-j-trump/

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — US Election Results: Donald Trump will be the 47th US President. US Election Results: Republican candidate Donald Trump secured the electoral college after winning Wisconsin state over Kamala Harris t…
https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-news/us-electio…

info

Claim 8: “more than half the American public voted to return Trump to the White House”

SINGLE SOURCE

The provided evidence confirms Donald Trump won the Electoral College and the election, but none of the provided sources explicitly state that he won the popular vote (more than 50% of the total votes cast).

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — The US election is really 50 state-by-state races rather than a single national one. The winner in any given state, apart from Maine and Nebraska, wins all of its electoral votes - for example, 19 in …
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn5w9w160xdo

travel_explore

web search NEUTRAL — 2024 President Results: Trump wins. Donald Trump has secured more than the 270 Electoral College votes needed to secure the presidency, NBC News projects.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/president-re…

help

Claim 9: “the war in Ukraine or the underreported genocide in Sudan”

INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE

No evidence was provided for this claim in the gathered results.

info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.