Expert claims Donald Trump exhibits authoritarian strongman traits

Historian and authoritarian leadership expert Dr. Ruth Ben-Ghiat suggests that Donald Trump has adopted the behavioral patterns of a political ‘strongman,’ characterized by deep suspicion and an obsession with personal security.

In a discussion with Joanna Coles, Ben-Ghiat argued that leaders who rely on personal authority rather than institutional structures often develop intense paranoia. She noted Trump’s focus on secure spaces, such as the bunker beneath the White House, as evidence of this mindset.

Ben-Ghiat further observed that this ‘hunt or be hunted’ mentality influences foreign policy, citing the president’s reaction to the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. While Coles noted that Trump has been the target of actual assassination attempts, Ben-Ghiat maintained that the psychological drive for survival remains a defining trait of such leadership styles.