The sinister brilliance of Donald Trump’s security theatre
How the president presents himself as America’s protector
Alligator alcatraz may or may not survive legal challenge. In August a court ruled that Donald Trump’s giant migrant cage in a Florida swamp violated environmental rules and would have to close. On September 4th another court reprieved it. Regardless of what happens to the grim detention centre, its name will live on. A video of Mr Trump visiting it remains on the White House website. The Florida Republican Party sells “Alligator Alcatraz” shirts and beer coolers. Memes circulate of alligators in ice (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) caps performing “ice, ice, Baby”, a rap parody. The underlying message resonates loudly: if you come to America illegally, expect cruelty.
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This article appeared in the United States section of the print edition under the headline “Lights, camera, truncheon”
From the September 13th 2025 edition
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Who’s afraid of the Democratic Socialists?
They may prove to be the left’s populist alternative to Trumpism
San Francisco’s recall fever
How much democracy is too much?
The pitfalls of being a non-profit that is beholden to government
Planned Parenthood and the consequences of defunding it
Charlie Kirk challenged liberals until the day he was murdered
The activist embodied a fiery style of conservatism and energised young voters
The ICE raid at Hyundai was a massive own goal
Georgia spent years wooing the foreign carmaker
The invasion of Chicago has been postponed
Lots of headlines, some protests, but no crackdown