Is everyone having fun in Trump's America yet?
Yes, it is dark times indeed. With that in mind, I couldn't help but draw some parallels to what is going on in real life politics to the world of Harry Potter.
So let's laugh while we cry:
Kellyanne Conway
Of "alternative facts" fame, she will twist or torture or even fabricate 'news' just to say what she wants. She also evades any straight answer while simultaneously throwing blame or fault onto someone else.
The only good parallel I can think of is Rita Skeeter.
Rex Tillerson
He's in it for the power and prestige. His business interests are in all likelyhood going to Trump any ideological loyalties but he is the example of the 1%.
Lucious Malfoy would be proud.
Betsy DeVos
This comparison has been all over social media because it's so apt. Someone with no educational experience placed in charge of educational regulation and standards is a recipe for a corrupt and inept educational system.
So DeVos definitely generates as much umbrage as Dolores Umbridge.
Steve Bannon
While SNL may portray Bannon as death itself, I don't think that's quite fitting with Harry Potter. Who else joins politics and places himself in a powerful position to advance an aggressively discriminatory agenda?
Oh, right, Gellert Grindelwald.
Mike Pence
Pence is a man who a lot of liberals see as the greater threat looming behind Trump. His anti-abortion and anti-LGBTQ legislative history speaks volumes of his contempt for those who differ from him. If you know anything about conversion 'therapy' then you know that this is a man without qualms of inflicting intense pain and suffering.
As such, there can be only one Harry Potter parallel: Voldemort.
Donald Trump
So you know I'm not putting him as Voldemort, so who else could possibly be Donald Trump's HP equal? Who else seems to shift ideology for the sake of being liked and having power? Who else puts up appearances and surrounds himself with as powerful 'friends' as he can get? Who else is willing to betray those who count on him to get ahead? Who else displays such extensive insecurities, fragile ego and cowardice when it comes to real confrontation?
Oh, wait, Peter Pettigrew, aka Wormtail, one of the most pathetic characters in the series.