Donald Trump banning Julianne Moore’s ‘Freckleface Strawberry’ from Department of Defense schools isn’t about a children’s book. It’s about controlling the conversation, shifting the spotlight, and, most importantly, disruption. This is classic Trump – a page ripped straight from the publicist’s playbook (maybe mine!). You create a new narrative when the optics aren’t in your favour. And what better way to do that than targeting a Hollywood star and her seemingly innocuous book?
So, let’s break it down. On the surface, this move looks absurd. A story about a freckled girl learning self-acceptance? Which is hardly the stuff of controversy. But Trump knows exactly what he’s doing. By tying the book to “gender ideology” and “equity indoctrination,” he’s creating a wedge issue that energizes his base while conveniently diverting attention from more pressing matters – like global unrest or domestic policy failures and countless executive orders that will end up in the courts.
This isn’t about protecting children. It’s about headlines. It’s about making sure we’re all talking about “him”. The world is grappling with crises, but instead of addressing those, we’re debating whether a children’s book is too “woke” for military families. That’s the magic of Trump: he doesn’t just dominate the news cycle; he dictates its terms.
And let’s not ignore the strategic brilliance here. Julianne Moore is Hollywood royalty – Oscar-winning, progressive, and outspoken. She’s everything Trump’s base loves to hate. By banning her book, he positions himself as the defender of “traditional values” against the so-called liberal elite. It’s red meat for his supporters and a distraction for everyone else.
But there’s another layer to this. Trump understands that banning books isn’t just censorship—it’s theatre. It creates an air of danger around otherwise harmless material, turning it into forbidden fruit. Suddenly, ‘Freckleface Strawberry’ is no longer just a children’s story; it’s a symbol of resistance. Sales will skyrocket, Moore will gain even more attention, and Trump? He’ll bask in the chaos he created.
This is disruption at its finest. It doesn’t matter if the ban holds up or even if it gets overturned next week. The damage – or success, depending on your perspective – is already done. We’re not talking about inflation or foreign policy; we’re talking about freckles!
Donald Trump knows his audience better than anyone else in politics today. His America isn’t poring over international news or worrying about nuanced policy debates – they’re rallying around cultural flashpoints like this one. By banning ‘Freckleface Strawberry’, he reinforces his image as a fighter against “woke culture,” ensuring that his supporters stay energized and engaged.
Meanwhile, the rest of us are left shaking our heads, wondering how we got here – how a semi-autobiographical children’s book became a political lightning rod. But that’s exactly the point: we’re playing his game now.
So don’t be fooled into thinking this is about protecting kids or enforcing some executive order. This is pure optics – a calculated move to deflect attention and control the narrative. And like it or not, it’s working. The question isn’t why Trump banned ‘Freckleface Strawberry’. The question is: what doesn’t he want us looking at?
