You cannot hide from your own character

At 50, everyone has the face he deserves.

George Orwell, personal diary (last entry), 1949

Ironically, George Orwell died in 1950 at the age of 46. He never quite reached the age at which he anticipated his true character would show on his face.

However, if Orwell’s aphorism is true, Donald Trump, at 72, is well settled into the face he has created for himself. I would say he has a “baby face” — but not in a cute way. Clearly, from the roundness of his face, he is a well-fed baby, but his expressions, more often than not, in multiple photographs over many years, reveal him to be a “petulant” baby.

petulant: adjective (of a person or their manner) childishly sulky or bad-tempered.

Google dictionary

Social scientist James Q. Wilson defined “character” as decency, politeness, self-restraint, commitment, honesty, cooperativeness and the ability to think of others’ well-being. Donald Trump has absolutely none of these qualities. Therefore, by definition, he is not a man of good character.

Trump supporters close their eyes to his utter lack of character. They like to point to his supposed “authenticity.” They claim that he “says it like it is.” But authenticity is not the same thing as honesty or decency. “Authentic” boorishness is still rude and insensitive. It is certainly not a sign of good character. In fact, a person who admits to being impressed by his crude behavior is actually revealing unsavory aspects of their own character.

Character is Destiny

Heraclitus

It is possible that the Trump administration’s end was foreshadowed from its very beginning. That his lack of character will inevitably lead to his downfall. That his constant denial of reality will catch up to him (and the party which enables him). Some even point to certain recent events as signs that his time is short.

But even if Trump is replaced soon, America will not quickly recover from its flirtation with Fascism. In fact, we could well find that a Pence administration is even scarier than what we have now. The authoritarian oppressiveness of “The Handmaid’s Tale” is much darker than the goofy narcissism of “The Apprentice.”

If character is indeed destiny, then the fate of our country depends upon the character of the American people as a whole. It is critical that we all vote, in every election, and that we actively participate in our democratic institutions. We must do a much better job of seeking out, encouraging, and supporting men and women of good character to run for office.

Now it is not common that the voice of the people desireth anything contrary to that which is right; but it is common for the lesser part of the people to desire that which is not right; therefore this shall ye observe and make it your law—to do your business by the voice of the people.
And if the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will visit you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land.

(Mosiah 29:26-27)

Sources: “Trump’s character will be his downfall,” Jonah Goldberg, Chicago Tribune, December 26, 2018
“Why the Trump presidency will end poorly,” Jonah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, December 25, 2018
Source Note: Jonah Goldberg is an editor for the conservative National Review whom I don’t tend to agree with. However, Goldberg does not care much for Trump. Interestingly, these two articles (with different titles, in two separate newspapers) are identical except for the first sentence. I presume this is a result of newspaper syndication and not any attempt on his part to be deceptive.