“What I didn’t expect was that in this country, home of ‘Truth, Justice and the American way,’ hope would be determined by politics.” Christopher Reeve, April 27, 2004.
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Eight months to the date before the 2024 Presidential election, Donald Trump likely tuned in on the sale of the original first copy of the 1938 Superman comic book – “Action Comics No. 1.” It sold for $6 million at auction.
This past weekend, he and his band of costumed marauders were back at it, playing superheroes on the White House lawn, decked out in full cage-fight regalia.
A large part of the value of “Action Comics No. 1” tracks back to, Christopher Reeve – the enduring image and voice of Superman – and a genuine American hero.
The famous slogan, “Truth, Justice, and the American Way”, did not appear in that first publication. It surfaced later, in the early 1940’s comic books, written by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, “to cheer on American military efforts in World War II.”
Its use waxed and waned over the next three decades until 1978. That’s when the Richard Donner film “Superman: The Movie” was released starring Christopher Reeve. As the Superman Homepage News acknowledged, it was thanks to Reeve’s performance that “the ‘Truth, Justice and The American Way’ motto was really cemented in popular culture for generations to come.”
In a controversial move, at the DC FanDome on October 21, 2021, DC Publisher Jim Lee announced that Superman’s motto “Truth, Justice and the American Way” would be evolving. “The American Way” would now be replaced by “a Better Tomorrow.”
A press statement elaborated that the move was made “to better reflect the storylines that we are telling across DC and to honor Superman’s incredible legacy of over 80 years of building a better world.”
Whether commercial, philosophical or political in motivation, now five years later, as Trump and Musk self-declare their own Superman-status, its worth contrasting two very different versions of “the American way.”
“America needs a superhero!” Trump proclaimed on his Truth Social site on December 14, 2022.” He followed up a year and half later with an image of his team of super-collaborators including Musk, Vance, and RFK Jr. in costume.
Superman’s slogan is very much “in play” said Trump counselor Kellyanne Conway at the time. She took a wrecking ball to its first word, “truth”, when she claimed the legitimacy of “alternate facts” on a Meet the Press interview in 2017.
As for “justice,” USA Today reported on March 25, 2026, that, “Trump singled out Justices Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett in a nighttime speech at the National Republican Congressional Committee fundraising dinner for voting against him in a landmark tariff case last month. Despite recent pleas from the Supreme Court’s chief justice, President Donald Trump . . . stated they ‘sicken’ him and that they are ‘bad for our country.’”
And that leaves only “The American Way?”
Historian John J. Patrick , Director of the Social Studies Development Center and Professor of Education at Indiana University, made this compelling argument (shortly before his death on April 3, 2024) that democracy is the American way and is “a never ending quest to narrow the gap between lofty ideals and flawed realities…”
As for Trump’s destructive actions, aided by Musk and others, Professor Patrick, listed his shortcomings:
1. “Governing ineptly because the most able persons are not selected to rule.”
2. “Making unwise decisions in government by pandering to public opinion.”
3. “Eroding political and social authority and unity by encouraging criticism and dissent.”
4. “Encouraging abuse or disregard of unpopular persons or opinions.”
5. “Failing to achieve its ideals or to adhere to its basic principles.”
The 2026 Midterms are just a few short months away. Twenty-two years ago, at the height of an election season, on October 10, 2004, Christopher Reeve died peacefully with loving family members at his side. He never felt sorry for himself or blamed anyone. As he said, “Some people are walking around with full use of their bodies and they’re more paralyzed than I am.”
As for being a hero himself, his insights were prescient and highly relevant to the current threats to our democracy. He said, “What makes Superman a hero is not that he has power, but that he has the wisdom and the maturity to use the power wisely.”
When it comes to superhero worship, it was best described by Wally West (AKA The Flash) in September, 2011, this way:
“A lot can happen in the blink of an eye. You can lose everything. Your name, your reputation. But they can be replaced… by determination, strength, empathy, faith… A renewed sense of how blessed you are just to be alive. To have people who love you, care for you, but that only happens if you don’t leave before the miracle. When you realize that tomorrow is a new day. That tomorrow brings hope, and hope is where we find redemption.”
Wally West (The Flash), September, 2011
5 replies on “Trump a Superhero? A Lot Can Happen In The Blink Of An Eye.”
I always thought if I was as insecure and as angry as Trump, I would be in big trouble! I yearn for a compassionate, thoughtful, ‘super hero’ leader who actually cares about the well-being of everyone – no matter who they are.
Mike – I am retiring in September after 35 years at AAAS. Please start sending your posts to my gmail account. I would not like to miss them. Thank you.
Thanks, Laureen. Wonderful to hear your voice. And congratulations on your retirement. You have touched so many lives in so many wonderful ways. I’ve added the gmail address. Wishing you the very best! Mike
Cage Match on WH Lawn.
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/14/us/ufc-trump-white-house.html
Hey Mike,
I remember when George Reeves played Superman in a TV series in the 1950s. I seem to recall that at the end of each 30 minute show there was Superman standing atop the Capital Dome with a U.S. flag waving and the words “Truth, Justice and the American Way” were spoken by the narrator. I believe Donald Trump saw the same thing and believed that he could do the same someday. And as his youthful years were closely guided by his demonic, deranged racist father he came to believe that emulating that model of success was the road to become Superman. And as his greed, ruthlessness and total lack of respect for others grew stronger and allowed him to live in luxury and have total control of his “empire” he believed that this was what it meant to be Superman because no one could defeat his lying and cheating ways. That was his “Truth, Justice and the American Way” and he believed everyone wanted to be like him so he would run for the presidency and show the world what a real Superman could do. And as the consummate con man that he is, as he lied and cheated he convinced millions of Americans that he was indeed Superman. And those millions of deluded voters gave him the Oval Office. And even after he was convicted of 32 felonies and they saw what he really was those same voters returned him to the presidency a second time, sure that all the bad stuff was fake and the real Superman was going to make their lives better. Today a few of those supporters are regaining their values perspective and sincerely admitting that they were wrong and Trump is not Superman. But the majority of Republicans in Congress still believe and give him whatever he wants from them. When they finally see the truth and admit that they were suckers for following Trump a lot can happen in the blink of an eye as Congress turns its back on Superman.
Hoping you and Patricia are well and happy.
Your friend…..Larry Williams
Hi Larry- Your summary tells the story. I was asked about this in a Q&A recently, and said the only positive point we can hold on to from this experience with Trump and his like is that we have been exposed to a Master’s course in the strengths and weaknesses of Democracy and the preservation of checks and balances. With the listening to President Obama and Michelle Obama this week, I believe we are approaching the end of this difficult period, that our government will survive, and that the pursuit of “truth and justice” will reassert itself. As for “the American way,” we remain a work in progress. Blessings to you and your family! Mike