The Great American Marriage: Kamal Harris v. Donna Trump
Write a hunorous three-act play where the American political divide is portrayed as a couple, Donna Trump and Kamal Harris.
ChatGPT Prompt
In Act II, show their therapist Miriam Bowen-Friedman guiding them to a breakthrough using self-harmonization and the example of Jefferson and Adams.
Highlight how their conflicts mirror their inner struggles and how embracing their rejected parts (Donna’s logic, Kamal’s passion) leads to personal and relational growth, especially for parenting their kids.
#InternalFamilySystems
Act I – “Divided We Bicker”
Setting: The living room of the America household. The room is divided down the middle. On one side, everything is red, adorned with eagles and a MAGA hat on the coffee table. On the other side, it’s blue, with a climate change poster and a Ruth Bader Ginsburg bobblehead on the shelf. Donna Trump, wearing a red power suit and pearls, is pacing aggressively. Kamal Harris, in a navy blazer with a cup of herbal tea, is calmly sitting on the couch.
Scene 1: The Disagreement
Donna Trump (hands on hips):
Kamal, I’m telling you, we need a wall! The neighbor’s kids keep cutting through our yard. It’s disrespectful!
Kamal Harris (raises an eyebrow, sipping tea):
Donna, we don’t need a wall. We need a fence, maybe even a community garden. Let’s invite them over and talk about why they’re cutting through.
Donna Trump (throws her hands in the air):
Talk? TALK? By the time you’re done “talking,” they’ll have taken the lawn chairs, the grill, and the doghouse!
Kamal Harris (calmly):
Well, if we didn’t leave the grill out with a sign saying “FREE USE,” maybe they wouldn’t.
Donna Trump:
That’s called hospitality! But they need to respect boundaries. Rules are rules, Kamal.
Kamal Harris:
And sometimes rules need reform, Donna. Maybe their backyard doesn’t even have a swing set! Have you considered that?
Scene 2: The Budget
Donna Trump (pulls out a stack of receipts):
And another thing, Kamal. You spent how much on solar panels last month? That’s the grocery money!
Kamal Harris (leans forward):
It’s an investment, Donna. In ten years, those panels will pay for themselves!
Donna Trump (snorts):
In ten years, I’ll be living off of canned beans because we couldn’t afford steaks anymore!
Kamal Harris (smirks):
Oh, I thought you liked canned beans. Isn’t that what your diet plan calls “working-class chic”?
Donna Trump (glares):
Don’t get cute with me, Kamal. At least I didn’t spend half the savings account on yoga mats and free childcare for the neighborhood kids!
Kamal Harris (shrugs):
If the neighborhood is happy and healthy, we all thrive. It’s called “community prosperity.”
Donna Trump:
It’s called bleeding us dry! And you still haven’t fixed the pothole in our driveway.
Kamal Harris (pickingup his tea again):
I’m waiting for bipartisan support. You didn’t like my last proposal to repave it with recycled materials.
Donna Trump (throws up her hands):
Because it looked like someone spilled oatmeal all over the driveway, Kamal!
Scene 3: The Kids
Donna Trump (gesturing to the kitchen):
And what about the kids? Donny Jr. and little Ivanka don’t respect any of my rules anymore. They’re always hanging out with Sasha and Beau in your “progressive family zone.”
Kamal Harris:
Because I let them express themselves, Donna. Maybe if you didn’t ground them every time they questioned you—
Donna Trump (interrupting):
Express themselves? Last week, they painted a rainbow on the garage! The garage, Kamal!
Kamal Harris (grins):
It’s art. Besides, it’s better than Donny Jr. sneaking off to the neighbor’s yard to spray-paint “Stop the Steal.”
Donna Trump:
At least he’s taking a stand! What are Sasha and Beau doing? Making kombucha and debating the pros and cons of universal healthcare?
Kamal Harris (proudly):
Actually, they are. Sasha even drew up a proposal for how to lower grocery costs for the whole block.
Donna Trump:
That’s not leadership—it’s fantasy!
Kamal Harris (leans in):
And Donny Jr. running a fake lemonade stand to fund his crypto account is leadership?
Donna Trump (clapping back):
That’s called entrepreneurship!
Scene 4: Threats of Divorce
Donna Trump (throwing up her hands):
You know what, Kamal? Maybe we’re just too different. You live in some dream world where everyone holds hands and sings kumbaya, and I’m stuck here trying to keep this house from falling apart.
Kamal Harris (standing now, visibly frustrated):
And I’m stuck cleaning up your messes, Donna! You burn bridges, pick fights, and call it leadership. This house isn’t a kingdom—it’s a partnership!
Donna Trump (shouting):
Partnership? Ha! You’re just dead weight! All talk, no action. Maybe it’s time we split up!
Kamal Harris (sarcastic):
Oh, really? Fine. I’ll take my side of the house, and you can keep your wall. Let’s see how long you last without me mediating every argument and fixing every problem!
Donna Trump (furious):
And let’s see how long you last without me balancing the budget and keeping the freeloaders in line!
Kamal Harris:
I’ll survive. At least I won’t have to listen to your constant winning is everything speeches.
Donna Trump (snapping):
And I won’t have to suffer through your endless “let’s compromise” nonsense!
(They both pause, glaring at each other, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.)
Scene 5: The Standoff
Donna Trump (crossing her arms):
You know what, Kamal? Maybe we should divorce.
Kamal Harris (mockingly):
Fine. I’ll draft the separation papers. You can keep the gold-plated lawnmower, and I’ll take the hybrid car.
Donna Trump:
Keep the hybrid. I don’t need your weak, liberal wheels.
Kamal Harris:
And I don’t need your obnoxious, gas-guzzling patriot mobile.
(They stare each other down, the room vibrating with their mutual disdain.)
Donna Trump (finally muttering):
You’d miss me, Kamal.
Kamal Harris (softly):
You’d miss me more.
(Silence. The stage lights dim as they retreat to opposite corners of the room, each plotting their next move. The house remains divided—both literally and figuratively.)
Act II – “Fractals of Reconciliation”
Setting: A neutral, minimalist office with calming beige walls and a painting of a serene forest. Miriam Bowen-Friedman, exuding calm authority, sits across from Donna Trump and Kamal Harris, who occupy opposite ends of a couch. Donna is animated, wearing a bold red shawl, while Kamal looks composed, clutching a notebook. Their house—and their union—feels on the verge of collapse.
Scene 1: The Calming Down
Miriam Bowen-Friedman (smiling warmly):
Donna, Kamal, I want to start by saying this: your conflicts aren’t failures. They’re invitations to grow—not just as partners, but as individuals.
Donna Trump (arms crossed):
That’s a nice sentiment, Miriam, but he’s the one refusing to grow. He just wants to measure and calculate everything.
Kamal Harris (raising an eyebrow):
Because someone has to keep the house from descending into chaos.
Miriam (raising her hand):
Pause. Right now, you’re each focusing on what you reject in the other. Donna, you reject Kamal’s rationality because it feels cold and dismissive. Kamal, you reject Donna’s values-driven passion because it feels impractical. But here’s the truth: the very parts of each other you find threatening are mirrors of the parts of yourselves you’ve rejected.
Donna Trump (blinking):
Wait… what are you saying?
Miriam:
This isn’t just a disagreement about politics or priorities. This is about reconciling with the disowned parts of your own psyche. Donna, your fear of Kamal’s rationality might be a reflection of your own fear of losing control or being seen as unreasonable. Kamal, your frustration with Donna’s passion may stem from your own discomfort with strong emotions or visionary thinking.
Kamal Harris (leaning back):
So… we’re not just fighting with each other. We’re fighting with ourselves?
Miriam:
Exactly. And until you make peace with those disowned parts, you’ll see the other as the enemy instead of the partner you’re meant to harmonize with.
Scene 2: The Fractal Nature of Harmony
Miriam (standing and drawing on a whiteboard):
Think of your relationship—and your household—as a fractal. At every scale, from the individual to the partnership, the same patterns emerge. To harmonize as partners, you first need to harmonize within yourselves.
Donna Trump (skeptical):
And how do we do that?
Miriam:
Through empathy. Not just for each other, but for the parts of yourselves you’ve been ignoring. Donna, can you empathize with the part of you that values logic and structure, even though you usually see yourself as the defender of values?
Donna Trump (hesitating):
I mean… I guess I like having order in the house.
Miriam:
Exactly. That part of you isn’t at odds with your values—it complements them. Logic and structure create the foundation for values to flourish. When you reject it, you risk chaos, even in your vision of righteousness.
Donna Trump (quietly):
I suppose… I just don’t want to lose sight of what matters most.
Miriam:
And you don’t have to. But by reconciling with your inner logic, you can strengthen your ability to fight for those values. Now, Kamal—can you empathize with the part of you that’s driven by passion and vision, even though you see yourself as the voice of reason?
Kamal Harris (frowning):
I guess there’s a part of me that does want to fight for a bigger picture. But I’ve always felt like I needed to focus on what’s practical. Passion feels… messy.
Miriam:
And yet, it’s passion that makes practicality meaningful. Without it, reason becomes cold and disconnected. Just as Donna’s logic strengthens her values, your passion gives purpose to your reason.
Scene 3: Historical Parallels
Miriam (gesturing to the whiteboard):
Let’s zoom out for a moment. Your house—your shared household—was built on the same tension you’re experiencing now. Think about Jefferson and Adams.
Donna Trump (perking up):
The Founding Fathers?
Miriam:
Yes. Two men with vastly different ideologies: Jefferson, the visionary, championing individual liberty and big ideas; Adams, the pragmatist, focused on stability and the rule of law. They clashed constantly, but through their friendship and shared struggle, they built something far greater than either of them could have alone.
Kamal Harris (thoughtfully):
And they didn’t let their differences destroy their relationship—or the republic they were trying to create.
Miriam:
Exactly. Their harmony wasn’t about agreement—it was about mutual respect and a willingness to work through their differences for a common cause. Your household can thrive the same way, but only if you recognize that your differences are your greatest strength.
Scene 4: Building Empathy
Miriam (turning back to Donna):
Donna, what if you saw Kamal’s logic not as a rejection of your values, but as a way to protect and sustain them?
Donna Trump (pausing):
I mean… I guess it makes sense. Without structure, my values would just be ideas floating in the air.
Miriam:
Exactly. Now, Kamal, what if you saw Donna’s passion not as a threat to your practicality, but as a reminder of what you’re working so hard to protect?
Kamal Harris (nodding slowly):
I suppose it’s true. Without a vision, all the logic in the world wouldn’t mean anything.
Miriam:
Now imagine if you could trust each other enough to let these strengths work together. Donna, when Kamal lays out a logical plan, could you see it as a way to ground your vision instead of dismissing it as cold?
Donna Trump:
Maybe. If he’d stop acting like my ideas are impossible all the time.
Miriam (to Kamal):
And Kamal, when Donna pushes for something bold, could you see it as a way to expand your perspective instead of dismissing it as impractical?
Kamal Harris:
I can try. If she stops dismissing my spreadsheets as “soulless.”
Miriam (smiling):
That’s a start.
Scene 5: A Shared Struggle
Miriam (sitting back down):
Now, here’s the challenge: just like Jefferson and Adams, your shared strength will only emerge through shared struggle. You’ll have to work through your disagreements, not as opponents, but as partners in service to the household.
Donna Trump (leaning forward):
So you’re saying we should stop trying to win and start trying to serve?
Miriam:
Exactly. Instead of asking “who’s right,” ask, “what does the household need?” Instead of fighting to protect your individual values, fight together to preserve what you both care about.
Kamal Harris:
And what we both care about is… this house.
Donna Trump:
And the kids. And making sure they grow up with something better than what we’ve got now.
Miriam:
That’s your common ground. And when you feel threatened by each other’s approach, remember: you’re not just harmonizing with each other. You’re also learning to harmonize with the rejected parts of yourselves.
Scene 6: A Fractal Future
Donna Trump (after a pause):
So… if I embrace my inner logic, and Kamal embraces his inner passion, we might actually… stop fighting?
Miriam:
Not stop fighting. But fight better. Together.
Kamal Harris (half-smiling):
And maybe next time, we’ll be more like Jefferson and Adams.
Donna Trump (grinning):
As long as I’m Jefferson.
Kamal Harris:
Of course you’d say that.
Miriam (laughing):
See? You’re already learning to laugh about your differences. That’s a good first step. Now, let’s talk about how to practice this at home.
Act III – “A New Way Forward”
Setting: The America household, still split down the middle but showing small signs of compromise. The red and blue sides of the living room have started to blend slightly—a shared bookshelf here, a combined photo collage there. Donna Trump and Kamal Harris sit at the kitchen table, papers spread out as they attempt to plan a family dinner.
Scene 1: Old Habits Die Hard
Donna Trump (pointing at Kamal’s spreadsheet):
Kamal, this is ridiculous. Do we really need a flowchart to decide what to serve at dinner? Just go with burgers—it’s what everyone loves!
Kamal Harris (sighing):
Donna, we agreed to be more inclusive. Sasha and Beau are vegetarians. They need options.
Donna Trump (throwing up her hands):
Fine, we’ll make a salad. But don’t come crying to me when no one eats it!
Kamal Harris (crossing his arms):
And don’t blame me when the neighbors don’t feel welcome because you refused to let me put out that “All Are Welcome” sign.
Donna Trump:
You’re obsessed with signs! How about we actually take care of our yard instead of putting messages on it?
Kamal Harris:
It’s a symbol, Donna. Something you claim to care about!
Donna Trump:
I care about symbols that mean something, not just feel-good platitudes!
Kamal Harris (leaning in):
You mean symbols like your gold-plated lawnmower?
Donna Trump:
That mower represents strength!
Kamal Harris:
It represents waste!
(They glare at each other, voices rising.)
Scene 2: The Kids Act Out
(In the middle of their argument, the kids burst into the room. Donny Jr. is wearing a homemade cape that says “My Way Rules,” while Sasha is carrying a sign that reads “Let’s All Get Along.” Ivanka and Beau are trailing behind, clearly upset.)
Donny Jr. (pointing at Sasha):
You can’t just take over the backyard with your “peace garden”! That’s my space for my Freedom Fortress!
Sasha (tearing up):
It’s not just your space! The backyard is for everyone!
Ivanka (crossing her arms):
And why do I always have to clean up Donny’s mess? He never listens to anyone but himself!
Beau (quietly):
Why can’t we just work together? Why is everything always a fight?
(Donna and Kamal freeze, watching their children mirror their worst tendencies.)
Scene 3: Confession
Donna Trump (softly):
Oh no. They’re… us.
Kamal Harris (nodding, putting his head in his hands):
We’ve been so focused on fighting each other, we didn’t even see what we were teaching them.
Donna Trump (kneeling down to Donny Jr.):
Donny, sweetheart, come here.
Donny Jr. (still holding his cape):
What? Are you going to tell me I’m wrong?
Donna Trump (shaking her head):
No. I’m going to tell you I’ve been wrong.
Donny Jr. (blinking):
What do you mean?
Donna Trump (taking his hand):
I’ve spent so much time trying to win every argument with your dad that I forgot what really matters. I made it seem like you have to fight for everything, even when it’s not a fight worth having. And that’s not fair to you.
Kamal Harris (kneeling down to Sasha):
And Sasha, I owe you an apology too. I’ve been so focused on making everything fair and balanced that I forgot how important it is to listen to your feelings. I made you think being practical is more important than being kind, and that’s not true.
Donna Trump (turning to the group):
The truth is, we’ve both been so busy trying to prove we’re right that we forgot to show you how to work together.
Kamal Harris:
And that starts with us admitting our mistakes and showing you that there’s a better way.
Scene 4: A Better Way Forward
Donna Trump (smiling):
Okay, kids. Let’s try something different. Donny, Sasha—how can we make the backyard work for both your fortress and the peace garden?
Donny Jr. (thinking):
Well… maybe the peace garden can have a little area with a flagpole for my fortress?
Sasha (nodding):
And maybe the fortress could have some flowers around it? To make it look nicer?
Kamal Harris:
Great start. Ivanka, Beau—what do you think?
Ivanka:
If Donny promises to clean up his side, I’ll help with the garden.
Beau:
And I can help build the flagpole.
Donna Trump:
See? That wasn’t so hard.
Kamal Harris (chuckling):
It’s easier when you’re not yelling, isn’t it?
Scene 5: A Shared Moment
(The family begins to laugh, the tension easing for the first time in days. Donna and Kamal exchange a glance, realizing how much they’ve learned.)
Donna Trump (to Kamal):
You know, you’re pretty good at this whole collaboration thing.
Kamal Harris:
And you’re pretty good at making sure we don’t lose sight of what matters.
Donna Trump (grinning):
Don’t get used to me saying that.
Kamal Harris (smirking):
Wouldn’t dream of it.
(The stage fades to black as the family sits together, sketching out plans for their shared backyard—a symbol of their newfound unity.)
End of Act III
