Picked up during the make-up session of her cultural show The Essential at Labro broadcast next Tuesday on C8 with Pierre Assouline in particular, the writer-director takes the time to take a break to glimpse the prospects of this new Trump era in the light of an America that he cherishes as an exegete and which serves as a elsewhere once again a common thread in the plot of his gripping new novel, Two gimlets on 5th Avenue published by Gallimard.
Is your formula “In politics the unexpected is always around the corner” true today?
No, because in a way this election was expected. Several reasons for this. Kamala Harris arrives too late. In certain American states his first name was not even known… His campaign was average, the obstacles were numerous… Furthermore, we must not forget that Trump has been in the campaign for almost four years while his face has invaded American space for twenty years! He is the most famous man in the United States. His legal and other setbacks were not enough in the face of this popularity. In this context, Kamala Harris could not win.
Is the unpredictable side of his personality tamed or is it the return of the Trump of the 1st term?
I think it will be another Trump. No doubt even more radical, but better surrounded. The Heritage Foundation worked on this mandate. The personality does not change. He has this charisma, but the eruptive character remains. It is possible, despite everything, that experience and preparation for this re-election have produced, if not a semblance of wisdom, a little more weighting and balance… The truth is that we do not know what has in store for us!
What does this election say about American society in 2024?
This highlights his fracture. There is “deep” America, that of the non-graduates, etc. It is now she who predominates. For these people, Trump represents power, success, insolence, total composure, the ability to constantly bounce back… He also has this body language. He impresses. They recognize themselves in him. There is nothing more “American”. It's John Wayne!
Right to abortion, women, minorities… Is the concern justified?
There is reason to ask questions. Let's not forget that he said that if he was re-elected he would be a “dictator” from day one. This means that he will want to impose his point of view and that of those who support him such as the Evangelicals…
Will people live “better” under Trump in terms of purchasing power?
We'll see. We must nevertheless note one thing, with his election the markets rose instantly. The dollar strengthened… Wall Street and big American capital were behind it! If America is fractured, on the other hand the economy, the military power, the influence or the inventive and productive wealth of these “disunited States” are doing very well!
Will his “bulldozer” side change the situation in the two current conflicts?
It all depends on the relationship he has with Putin… I wouldn't allow myself to say that it's in his hands… We'll see! In any case we see that Netanyahu is overjoyed that he is re-elected. Even Zelensky congratulated him. In fact they are all courting him! (laughter) But coming back to Russia, politically the return of Trump means that what Putin calls the “Western collective” comes out weakened. The other winner of this election is Putin!
