The "Victimcould" Playbook: How to Cry Wolf in Politics 101
Or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Hypothetical Oppression
Picture this: You're scrolling through your feed when you see a billionaire politician, surrounded by security details and campaign donors, tearfully explaining how he's about to become the most persecuted man in America. The kicker? Nothing has actually happened to him yet.
Welcome to the wonderful world of "victimcould."
What Is This Fresh Hell?
Cultural theorist Kathryn Claire Higgins coined this term, and honestly, we needed a name for it. "Victimcould" is when powerful people preemptively claim victim status for injuries that haven't happened and probably won't. It's like crying wolf, except the wolf is imaginary and you're already the apex predator in the forest.
Think of it as emotional insurance fraud for the politically powerful.
The Trump Card Example
Remember those AI-generated images of Donald Trump getting arrested that went viral before he was actually arrested? That's victimcould in its purest form. Trump and his team used those fake images to paint him as a victim of an overzealous justice system—months before any real charges materialized.
It's brilliant, in a deeply cynical way. By the time actual legal troubles arrived, the narrative was already set: "See? We told you this would happen. We're the real victims here."
A former president with a billion-dollar brand successfully positioned himself as the underdog. That takes skill.
Why Does This Actually Work?
Because vulnerability is political gold. In the attention economy, whoever can claim they're "under attack" often wins the sympathy jackpot—and sympathy translates to votes, donations, and unwavering loyalty.
But here's the trick: victimcould doesn't wait for actual persecution. It manufacture urgency from possibility. "What if" becomes "what is," even when the evidence suggests otherwise.
It's like buying fire insurance because you had a dream about your house burning down, then spending the next decade telling everyone you're a fire victim.
The Bigger Picture (Spoiler: It's Not Just Trump)
This playbook has gone global. Across the political spectrum, historically powerful groups are discovering the sweet spot of claiming endangered status while maintaining actual power.
Far-right movements worldwide have perfected this art: "We're being replaced!" they cry from positions of political influence. "They're coming for us!" they warn while writing the laws.
Meanwhile, people facing actual, documented persecution—immigrants, minorities, the economically disadvantaged—watch their real struggles get overshadowed by theoretical ones.
Why You Should Care (Beyond the Obvious Absurdity)
Because victimcould isn't just rhetorical theater. It shapes policy. When lawmakers start crafting legislation based on hypothetical threats to powerful groups, the people who actually need protection get pushed to the back of the line.
It's like calling the fire department for a house that might catch fire someday while ignoring the one that's currently on fire next door.
The Antidote
The good news? Once you spot victimcould, you can't unsee it. And that's our superpower.
Here's your field guide:
Ask for receipts: What actually happened? When? To whom?
Check the power dynamics: Who's making the claim? What's their actual situation?
Follow the money: What policies or donations follow these claims?
Stay curious: Real injustices deserve attention. Hypothetical ones deserve skepticism.
The Plot Twist
The most absurd part? Sometimes the people crying "victimcould" end up creating the very scenarios they claim to fear. It's like a self-fulfilling prophecy, except instead of prophecy, it's just really effective political theater.
Looking Forward
Here's the optimistic bit: Democracy works best when we're all paying attention. Understanding victimcould doesn't make you cynical—it makes you a better citizen.
The next time you see someone with real power claiming they're about to lose everything, remember: Sometimes the only thing actually at risk is their ability to keep saying that.
The future is unwritten, and so is the next chapter of this story. Let's make sure it's based on what is happening, not what could happen—especially when the people making those claims are the ones holding the pen.
Pass it on. The best defense against political theater is an audience that knows it's watching a performance.
//Peace Love And Respect
Sources:
https://www.rawstory.com/rs-exclusive/trump-victim-2672880236/
"It's only common sense, there are no accidents round here..."
Peter Gabriel - Lay Your Hands On Me