"...circumvent the political process by taking their message directly to the people. Mr. Trump managed to do that..."

So did Macron in the French election. No party, no establishment, but a movement, exactly what Trump claimed to have as well (that he was heading up a movement). 

The fact that the current establishment calls someone a "populist" simply because she makes the people his priority and not the system, it has a very sad implication: the 'lowly' plebs ('populus') needs the validation and paternalism/tutelage of the elite (the opposite of the 'populus') to count.  

Its funny ... how strictly people demand the 'sensus fidelium' in the Church, but not in political life.

What did Francis mean when he demanded (rightly) from priests to acquire the smell of their sheep? Is that not taking the message directly to the people and responding directly to the people?

Why is Francis not a "populist"? :)

And a final question: What do you think, was Jesus a populist?