The controversy over whether or not Apple should enable the FBI to crack the security of the iPhone belonging to the San Bernardino shooter has spilled over into the presidential race. It’s a complicated debate that is only trivialized by the shallowness of a political campaign. And leave it to Donald Trump to lead the pack in reducing the intellectual coherence of the issue.

Trump’s contribution to the dialog consisted mainly of a faux-macho declaration that he would dump Apple products if they didn’t capitulate to the demands of the Justice Department. As a threat, that carries about the same weight as his complaints about manufacturers moving their operations to other countries. He still has his clothing lines and other branded merchandise made in China and Mexico, so don’t expect him to stop using his iPhone for his midnight tweets.

What’s more, it goes against the grain of his allegedly anti-establishment campaign theme to side with the feds who want to force private businesses to comply with their demands. Trump’s history of siding with big government against free enterprise is evident in his support of eminent domain and his recent tantrum where he told companies with off-shore facilities to “fuck off.”

Now, to go along with his rabid string of lawsuits, Trump is also pushing boycotts against an ever expanding group of evil American businesses. Apple is just the latest villain to irk The Donald. Here are some of the others:

• Macy’s – for having the gall to disassociate with Trump after he maligned Latinos.
• Ford – for building a plant in Mexico.
• Oreos – for joining Ford south of the border.
• Starbucks – for failing to celebrate Christmas with reindeer on their cups.
• Univision – for reporting fairly on issues that affect Latino-Americans.
• HBO – for not firing Bill Maher after he criticized Trump.
• Rolling Stone Magazine – for putting a photo of the Boston Marathon bomber on the cover.
• Mexico – for letting El Chapo escape. Also – for arresting a U.S. Marine who entered the country illegally with weapons.
• And my personal favorite: Fox News – for their alleged unfairness to him, despite having birthed his campaign and giving him far more airtime than any other candidate.

The sheer quantity of boycotts and lawsuits that Trump engages in is further proof that his antagonism and belligerence makes him utterly unfit to hold an office that requires thoughtful analysis and diplomacy. He’s a megalomaniac bully who resorts to hostile tactics to achieve his goals. Imagine that sort of personality with access to armies and nuclear weapons.

How Fox News Deceives and Controls Their Flock:
Fox Nation vs. Reality: The Fox News Cult of Ignorance.
Available now at Amazon.