#250: Trump on American Exceptionalism: ‘I Never Liked the Term’
Early into United States President Barack Obama’s first term in office he said he believed in American exceptionalism just as “Brits believe in British exceptionalism and the Greeks believe in Greek exceptionalism.” His comment brought strong criticism from the right. Some even wondered if President Obama understood what the term “American exceptionalism” meant. He later backtracked on the comment and tried to clarify what exactly he meant. Ironically, current Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s view of American exceptionalism is even more left than President Obama’s. When asked about it a little over a year ago, he pointedly said, “I don’t like the term.” On today’s show, Stephen Flurry discusses American exceptionalism, what it is, where it came from and what America must do to hold onto it.