Trump’s the perfect president for a reality TV-loving America, with the promise of quick and easy fame and fortune

Vicki Larson

Nov 9, 2016·4 min read

If you’re a millennial woman, you know the drill: Prince Charming doesn’t exist. A man is not going to come and rescue you, so you need to get your head out of happily-ever-after fairy tales and Disney movies, and into reality and your own 401(k) plan.

As much as women understand that and many women have done that, those fantasies still run deep. “Sometimes women just want to be rescued,” Your Tango declared after a survey of single women in New York City revealed a preference for stereotypical rescuers — firefighters, because they can, and Wall Street execs, because they can afford to — as potential perfect mates.

Men don’t have those rescue fantasies. They don’t need to. They have the reality, mostly because their women — no matter how hurt, humiliated or dumped upon — have generally stood by their side. Because women are expected to. As women, there’s no better testament to what we do best — we love, we nurture, we trust, we give and we wait, patiently.

In his new biography, Bruce Springsteen credits his wife of 25 years, Patty Scialfa, for helping him through his depression. Alec Baldwin recently credited wife Hilaria for helping him be a better parent to their three kids. Ozzy Osbourne thanks his wife, Sharon, for standing by his side while he dealt with his sex addiction. Samuel L Jackson credits his wife, LaTanya Richardson, for getting him into rehab. And Jon Bon Jovi says he owe his wife of 27 years, Dorothea, for helping him beat his demons.

Let’s face it — life’s a heck of a lot easier when we can put our faith and trust in someone who’ll save us, even if we’re partly or fully responsible for our own demons.

And judging by the results of Tuesday’s presidential election, we Americans have put our faith and trust in someone the majority of the country believes will save us — Donald Trump. He’s never detailed exactly how he will save us, but because he has what many of us want — power, money, prestige and, for those for whom it matters, a hot partner — many of us bought into his fairy tale.

America, you now have your Prince Charming.

It’s funny how so many so-called relationship experts advise (mostly women) to stop seeking The One, the man who will be everything we want — a partner, a lover, a friend, an equal and a great dad who also happens to be charming, handsome, successful, smart and a good earner. The One doesn’t exist, gals, so lower your expectations, we’re told.

“Ladies with their mile-long, superficial lists, the ones who dress themselves up and dumb themselves down for the VIP crowd, hoping for, perhaps getting the coveted man who will make their fairy tale dreams come true, where does that lead?” writes Natalie Thomas in the Huffington Post.

But when it comes to choosing a president, America is just like those women — dressed up and dumbed down — wanting The One. We want someone who promises to rescue us even though he has nothing to show for it but his status and money (although since Trump still hasn’t released his tax returns we’re not even sure about that). Trump has never worked hard to build up the lives of others, just himself. But that doesn’t matter to an America that just wants an in with the VIP crowd.

With shows like The Bachelor consuming our time, it’s no wonder that we have Trump as our president-elect; many of us really want to believe that we can end up with a dazzling multi-carat rock and The One, with the promise of living happily-ever-after, in just one TV season. Trump himself is a reality TV star; he knows that our desire for easy happy endings — as well as our lust for fame and fortune as quickly as possible — is what drives many of our decisions.

So for all the women hoping to find The One, the message is clear — it’s time to ignore the so-called experts. Prince Charming exists and fairy tales do come true … even if they prove themselves to be nightmares.

Vicki Larson is an award-winning journalist, author, columnist, blogger and freelancer whose work can be found in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian and elsewhere. She is the co-author of “The New I Do: Reshaping Marriage for Skeptics, Realists and Rebels” (Seal Press), and the proud mother of two young men. Follow her at OMG Chronicles, on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.