- By Supratik Das
- Sat, 26 Jul 2025 09:31 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
In a symbolic gesture to bolster President Donald Trump's determination and leadership, the White House on Friday posted a dramatic passage from Theodore Roosevelt's 1910 "Man in the Arena" speech, showing Trump walking alone across a Roman-style coliseum. The literary allusion and dramatic imagery portray Trump as a battle-weary commander confronting challenges with courage, a portrait that sparked swift and divided responses online. The post on X (formerly Twitter) included Roosevelt's well-known words, "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” –President Theodore Roosevelt."
Along with the quote was an artistic depiction of Trump striding across a devastated coliseum, through a torn American flag, under a blackened sky. The imagery implied that Trump, in his second term as the 47th President of the United States, is unconcerned by criticism and controversy. The Roosevelt speech—"Citizenship in a Republic", is commonly cited to honor bold decision-makers not afraid of facing public judgment. The White House's move is timely, with Trump not just touting achievements but also under severe scrutiny over earlier affiliations, such as the renewed focus on the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
Trump's Second Term, "Worthy Cause" and Bold Reforms Boasted by White House
Since his return to the White House in January 2025, President Trump has claimed a series of achievements in his first six months on the chair, from tax reforms and economic proposals to tough immigration policies and new foreign policy bargains. Characterising Trump as a person who "spends himself in a worthy cause," the White House statement is seemingly an effort to redefine his presidency as one of perseverance and patriotism. In a statement, senior communications adviser Sarah Liddell averred, "The President's journey has never been straightforward, but he remains committed to serving the American people with courage and resilience. He is the man in the arena."
The post elicited a split wave of reaction among the general public. While some fans applauded, admitting "That's my President" and "Keep going up," many users reacted negatively, raising new concerns regarding the still-unsolved Epstein scandal. One of the most widely shared responses was, "If he actually stood for Truth and Justice, the Epstein files would be out by now." Another simply said, "Epstein files, please."
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Superman Imagery Sparks More Controversy
This isn't the first time the White House has employed dramatic visual metaphors. A few hours earlier, on July 11, it posted a picture of Trump photoshopped as "Superman," cape included, with the caption, "The symbol of hope. Truth. Justice. The American way." It immediately went viral, garnering more than 2.3 million views within minutes. Yet instead of mobilizing patriotic fervor, the Superman post inflamed criticism. The timing came under fire from many, who accused the administration of diverting attention from the more serious issues on hand—including mounting calls for transparency into Epstein's supposed network. Legal voices also added fuel to the fire.
In a prior interview this year, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi hinted that the so-called “Epstein client list” was still under review—comments that some critics now cite as part of a broader delay or cover-up. As Trump approaches the second half of his first year back in power, the administration is doubling down on symbolism and narrative to build a legacy of strength, defiance, and reform. Controversies old and new, however, continue to follow the 47th president, frequently derailing well-timed narratives. Whether regarded as a new gladiator or a polarizing figure shying away from difficult realities, Trump is resolutely at the center of the American political stage.
