Today, one has to assume that President Donald Trump does not see himself winning the Nobel Peace Prize anytime soon. But, an Oscar and an Emmy? Yes, without any doubt. He has been America’s Best Actor in a Drama and Best Director of a Reality TV Show.

After all, a man who has threatened to blow up a country to “back to the Stone Ages”; is refusing (via the use of a military blockade) to allow Cuba access to oil/energy needed for their survival, as a “negotiating” tool (some may call it ex-diplomacy, aka: extortion diplomacy); and would want to engage in war over a country’s “aspiration” to do harm to America (not to be confused with having the capability to do harm) does not seem likely to be selected for the coveted award. However, I do know a country or two that would nominate Trump.

Today, thanks (at least partially) to Trump’s actions, our economy is at the point where we spend more servicing our national debt than we do our military. From 1983 until 2010 the government borrowed from the “future” of our senior citizens via raiding trust funds such as Social Security. At the same time, large American institutions and foreign countries like Japan and China helped prop up the government through the purchase of U.S. Treasury bonds just to pay the service on our debt. This practice, to the tune of $39 trillion, is not sustainable.

Repayment for the illegal use of worldwide tariffs is yet more money that would come straight from our Treasury — money we do not have. Trump’s Anti-Weaponization Fund is another $1.8 billion that we do not have that will be added to our debt. Oh, never thought the GOP was for “reparations” — but it would appear that for Trump it depends in part to your color. Lastly, there’s a requested $500 billion increase to our War Department spending that we do not have.

We should not be surprised; or should we?

Fiscal responsibility does not appear to be a strength of a man who has declared bankruptcy multiple times, maintains lavish spending habits while many Americans struggle financially, and often seems unable to negotiate in a truly “win-win” manner. Thus, we should not be surprised. (But it does help explain our troubles at the Strait of Hormuz with Iran.)

As I said earlier, Trump will not win a Nobel Peace Prize, but there are two coveted awards that he will win hands down: Best Actor in a Drama and Best Director in a TV Reality Show. Let’s deal with the latter first. Trump has orchestrated some of the best “made for reality TV events.”

Who could even think of a situation where someone could be the plaintiff and defendant? In Trump’s on again off again IRS lawsuit even the judge questioned how Trump could be the plaintiff and the defendant. Amazing! What a show!

And how could anyone buy millions of dollars of stock in companies and then promote those companies while having the ability to enhance the value of the stock you just bought? All this cannot be real. Not even Al Capone or Bernie Madoff would believe that anyone could do that, so it must be just another episode in the Trump Reality Show. Kudos to Trump! The Emmy Award is deserved.

Trump performed beautifully in convincing people he was for “America First” and that he cared about the affordability issue facing American families.

His performance during the campaign convinced people that he would not wage wars or have regime change and that he respected the other branches of government — he was pro-democracy.

He told us the he would not seek retribution toward his foes. “My success would be my revenge” was a line he delivered so well during the campaign.

He acted out how he would be tough with Russia’s Putin — you know, the “I will end the Ukraine War in days” performance.

He convinced folks that other countries would pay for the tariffs when we all know now it is a hidden tax and the American people have ultimately paid the price.

He convinced white people that Civil Rights protests in the 1960s were truly intended to help white people, as white people are being discriminated against. Which is like telling the Yankees dynasty or the Boston Celtics in the 1960s in their heyday – the umpires/refs have been cheating against you. OK, even if true (and it was not true) did it make much of a difference?

He convinced folks that China would not be able to buy farmland in America, since most Americans saw it as a national security risk given some lands were close to strategic locations.

Speaking of China, Trump took the bullying of Xi Jinping just like a professional actor. Most Americans were in total shock at the way Trump “acted” by lavishly praising Xi, who is one of the true biggest dictators in the world. And, let’s not forget how Trump “played” like he was speechless when Xi basically threatened the United States over Taiwan.

However, no actor can nail every scene and Trump is no different. Nobody fell for Trump’s claim that he was OK with the full complete release of the Epstein files. Heck, not even three-time Oscar winner Jack Nicholson could pull that scene off in a way that it would be believable.

Yes, in a performance of a lifetime, Trump “acted” like he wanted to be president of the United States when being a wealthy king is all he really wanted to be.

Gary Franks served three terms as a congressman from Connecticut’s 5th District.