I do love learning new words.
I’m not referring to the words that get added to dictionaries each year, as in this article:
Although those words are always worth noting, especially this one:
Click on the word and sure enough, there it is in Merriam-Webster:
Fun…but not where I’m going with this.
The “new words” I’m referring to are words that have been around for awhile, but are new to me.
And the word fitting that description is one I heard only recently for the first time:
Trumpiest
My spellcheck sure doesn’t like that one.
It appears that using “Trumpiest” goes back to at least 2020:
It was in use in 2021:
Right up to the present:
And not to be outdone, the New York Times…
…jumped in with the three degrees of adjective comparison: positive (or negative), comparative, and superlative.
Like in ugly, uglier, ugliest but it’s Trumpy, Trumpier, Trumpiest.
But even in its widespread use and all its degrees of comparison, an awareness of Trumpiest eluded me.
Until this article about the results of the recent New Hampshire primary:
And Trump’s reaction to the primary results:
“‘Nice! The “Trumpiest” people ALL won in New Hampshire last night. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!’ Trump wrote on Truth Social on Wednesday.”
I don’t think I’m going out on a limb here to suggest that Trump thinks describing something as “Trumpiest” is high praise, indeed.
I, on the other hand, would be insulted beyond words if someone described me or anything about me as “Trumpiest.”
And for the purpose of this post – yes, I’m finally getting around to the purpose – I will utilize “Trumpiest” as an insult.
Think “liar.” Think “cheater.” Think “fraudster.”
Allow me to introduce my choice for the Trumpiest thing I’ve ever encountered:
The image on the left features three lions and two chevrons on a shield, below a gloved hand gripping an arrow.
The image on the right displays a two-headed eagle, three chevrons and two stars on the shield, below a lion gripping a pennant.
In my research I encountered articles that referred to these images as a “coat of arms.” Other articles refer to the images as a “family crest.”
Because I can be a real jerk stickler about these things, I wanted to learn the difference, and which was correct.
It’s actually pretty easy:
A coat of arms is a detailed symbol used to identify families or individuals.
The family crest is a smaller part of the design, often located at the top.
So:
Coat of arms, family crest at the top, plenty of garni all around.
So these are coats of arms:
You don’t hear a lot about coats of arms in the U.S., but this is a matter of serious importance to many people in Great Britain. It’s called heraldry, which is:
“The art and science of devising, displaying, and granting armorial insignia and of tracing and recording genealogies. The use of heraldic symbols, or ‘coats of arms,’ as a means of identification spread through European nobility in the 13th century.
“Only the highest classes of people in medieval Europe used coats of arms, as they were the only one with ancestors distinguished enough to have been granted them by the kings of the time.”
“An individual had to be granted a coat of arms by a ruling monarch to be able to legally use it.”
If you were granted a coat of arms by a ruling monarch, it was a big deal. Your coat of arms said you’d arrived. You weren’t just somebody, but somebody important. You proudly displayed your coat of arms everywhere including on your armor:
Over the front entrance of your castle:
Incorporated into your castle windows:
And people – including people who couldn’t read – recognized your combination of symbols, your high rank, and treated you with respect.
Respect, because you’d earned it.
Unlike the user of these coats of arms:
These coats of arms are the Trumpiest thing I’ve ever seen.
They’re coats of arms used by Donald Trump.
Let’s start with the complete coat of arms on the left:
The emblem is used at Trump’s golf courses across the U.S. At the Trump National Golf Club outside Washington, it’s everywhere – the pro shop, the exercise room, the sign out front:
You can buy Trump golf balls with the coat of arms:
And in a truly Trumpiest manner, Trump has incorporated his coat of arms into the American flag:
Now, you know and I know there’s absolutely no way a ruling monarch had granted Trump a coat of arms.
No.
Trump got his coat of arms the old-fashioned way:
He stole it.
According to this article:
“…Mr. Trump’s American coat of arms belongs to another family. It was granted by British authorities in 1939 to Joseph Edward Davies, the third husband of Marjorie Merriweather Post, the socialite who built the Mar-a-Lago resort that is now Mr. Trump’s cherished getaway.”
On the left below is the real deal: Mr. Davies’ coat of arms; on the right – the Trump fake:
“…the Trump Organization took Mr. Davies’s coat of arms for its own, making one small adjustment – replacing the word ‘Integritas,’ Latin for integrity, with ‘Trump.’”
Obviously because Trump doesn’t understand the meaning of integrity, in English or Latin.
“Joseph D. Tydings, a Democrat and former United States senator from Maryland who is the grandson of Mr. Davies, learned that Mr. Trump was using the emblem, at least at Mar-a-Lago, when he visited the property. Mr. Trump had never asked permission.”
Are you shocked?
Me, neither.
Trump bought Mar-a-Lago in 1985, and I’m picturing him walking around, gloating, surrounded by his usual toadies. He points to something on a wall – perhaps above a fireplace:
Trump: What the hell is that?
Toady #1: Sir, that’s the coat of arms of Joseph Edward Davies, who received it when he was married to Marjorie Merriweather Post and they were living here at Mar-a-Lago.
Trump: What the hell is a coat awhatis?
Toady #2 (frantically waving his hand): Sir, I know! I know! It’s like…an award…I think?
Today #3 (also waving his hand): I know, too! A coat of arms indicates, like, someone who’s powerful! It was given to Davies by the monarch. Of England! Like, only monarchs can do that.
Trump: It says you’re powerful? And it’s from a monarch? Well, what the fuck? Why don’t I have one of those watch-a-callits?
(He looks around at his toadies, whose heads hang in shame.)
Trump: Do I have to come up with all the great ideas? What am I paying you assholes for?
(Silence)
Trump (pointing to coat of arms): Take that thing down and put my name on it. And tell those dummies in the marketing department I want that thing everywhere. And I mean everywhere!
Toadies (in unison): Sir, yes, sir!
Trump: Everywhere, goddamnit! Including the bathrooms! I’ll show people who’s powerful, including when they’re wiping their –
Toadies (interrupting, in unison): Sir, yes, sir!
And Trump’s fake coast of arts #1 was born.
But wait – how did I learn about Trump’s fake coats of arms in the first place?
All that and more in Part 2 on Monday, October 3.
I Hate Houseguests 