Political commentator Danielle Moodie marked the ten-year anniversary of Donald Trump’s infamous “escalator ride” announcement of his 2015 presidential campaign with a forceful Instagram post.
In the fiery post, the activist called for an end to what she described as a decade-long erosion of decency and human values in American politics since Trump entered the political space.
“It’s been 10 years since Donald Trump came down those escalators and there began the descent of decency and values… we must end it!” Moodie wrote in a stark caption accompanying a video message.
It Shouldn’t Be Revolutionary to Care About Humanity
In the video, Moodie passionately criticises the political and cultural shifts that have unfolded over the past decade, particularly the demonization of empathy and the marginalization of progressive values.
“Over those 10 years, they have convinced us that saying Black Lives Matter is radical,” Moodie said. “That caring and having empathy for other countries and other people is radical… That famine and genocide shouldn’t be a part of your safety measures.”
Moodie also condemned what she called the “white delusional project,” which she argued has reframed awareness and consciousness as threats to the status quo:
“Being conscious, being awake in your life is somehow an act of defiance. And maybe it is—because they work overtime to ensure that you are asleep.”
A Broader Critique of Power and Greed
Moodie’s remarks weren’t limited to racial injustice. She widened her critique to include the influence of billionaires and unchecked capitalism and called out the growing economic inequality in the U.S.
“They are insatiable. Their greed is insatiable. And so must our fight for justice be,” she added.
Her comments strike at the heart of ongoing debates over wealth disparity, structural racism, and the future of democracy in America, especially under Trump’s second term as president.
The Symbolism of the Escalator
Trump’s dramatic descent at Trump Tower on June 16, 2015, is widely regarded as the beginning of a new and polarizing era in American politics.
Moodie’s choice to frame the last decade as a “descent” plays directly on that moment, positioning it as the turning point for what she sees as a systematic unraveling of compassion, civic responsibility, and human rights.
Continued Advocacy
Danielle Moodie, known for her podcast Woke AF Daily and her appearances on MSNBC, has long used her platform to speak out on issues of race, gender, and justice.
Her latest post underscores the emotional and political toll of the Trump era on marginalized communities and affirms her commitment to what she calls “a fight for justice that must be as relentless as the greed that oppresses us.”
