OPINION: The path to the presidency starts with laughter

Does anyone remember our elementary school days when the world was full of possibilities and our optimism was at an all-time high? During those days, our teachers would ask the age-old question, "What would you like to be when you grow up?"

Classrooms were usually brimming with aspiring doctors or budding veterinarians. However, there was always that one classmate, the perennial over-achiever, who would raise their hand and confidently declare a dream that was seemingly one in a billion: to become the president of the United States.

In my class, the kid who responded with that answer was clearly the most naturally bright young individual in my school. Not a single soul questioned them when they said they wanted to be president. Looking back on the event now, I laugh at our class’s naivete.

Presumably, he was the man most capable of the job. He had astute decision-making skills and was the most determined of my class. However, if we were to learn anything from the presidency of Joe Biden, it is that these qualities don’t matter in the slightest.

In this day and age, there's one quality that stands out above all others when it comes to the presidency: the ability to make people laugh.

I know it sounds preposterous; however, let’s consider recent presidencies.

During former President Donald Trump’s first presidential debate, Fox News debate moderator Megyn Kelly was going to ask a rather reasonable question about Trump’s past statements on women.

She initially said, “You've called women you don't like 'fat pigs,' 'dogs,' 'slobs' and 'disgusting animals’.”

Trump's infamous interruption was, “Only Rosie O'Donnell.”

Although undoubtedly crude and misogynistic, the “joke” landed and was the most re-watched clip of the night for months after. Trump ended up on top of the polls in his first debate and created a path to the presidency and to the comedic spotlight.

While it's true that Donald Trump may not be everyone's preferred source of comedic relief, there's no denying that he occupies a unique space in comedy. People are drawn to him because they either laugh alongside or at him. I mean, who doesn’t immediately associate the word “Trump” with something laughable?

The idea of finding humor in someone or something, even if it involves laughing at them, is a broader comedic concept that extends beyond just Donald Trump’s presidency. It extends to most of our recent presidents.

How many times do you laugh at Biden’s dimwittedness that manifests in incoherent sentences? Or didn’t you chuckle at President George W. Bush saying, “Now, watch this drive” after warning us of the threats of international terrorism?

Both Bush and Biden may not intentionally strive to be humorous, but the stark contrast between their high-ranking positions and some of their actions often results in unintended comedic moments.

In recent years, what president hasn’t been unintentionally or purposefully humorous? President Biden is our 46th president. If you look at our most recent presidents, the last president to not be overtly humorous was probably President Jimmy Carter, our 39th president, whose administration ended over 40 years ago.

Undoubtedly, his dullness ruined his presidency in the end, and the charismatic President Ronald Reagan humiliated him in the 1980 presidential election by an electorate score of 489-49.

The need for political leaders to possess a sense of humor is not limited solely to the free world's leaders. Even dictators need to win the laughs of their constituency to win their hearts.

Authoritarian leaders in strict regimes also employ humor to connect with their citizens. For instance, President Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China and President Vladimir Putin of Russia often attempt to portray themselves as relatable individuals.

This occasionally leads to moments of absurdity, where you find yourself chuckling at the sight of someone so influential engaging in everyday activities. There are even instances where these leaders have appeared in videos together, cooking pancakes or showcasing their skills in activities like judo, which adds to their efforts in presenting a more approachable image.

Xi also offers comedic relief in the capacity of being made fun of, drawing comparisons to Winnie the Pooh in China and abroad and hilariously acting as the authoritarian that he is in censoring the Disney character throughout the country.

The demand for our political leaders to possess comedic qualities underscores our elections' often absurd and superficial nature. Nowadays, political campaigns resemble popularity contests more than ever, placing less emphasis on one's political stances and more on their ability to present them. So, for those of you in political science courses with high aspirations, it may be worth working on your stand-up over completing that essay.