Analysis: Understanding Trump's Affinity for Dictators

Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a history professor at New York University, is the author of the book “Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present” and publishes Lucid, a Substack newsletter focusing on threats to democracy. The views expressed in this commentary are her own.

What do Vladimir Putin, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Viktor Orban, Adolf Hitler, Xi Jinping, Kim Jong-un, and Saddam Hussein have in common? They have all received praise from former US president, and current GOP presidential nominee, Donald Trump. Trump has even promised Americans that he will be a dictator "on Day One" of his presidency.

Ruth Ben-Ghiat

Ruth Ben-Ghiat

CNN

In a new book by CNN anchor and national security correspondent Jim Sciutto, it is revealed that Trump allegedly admires even the most murderous dictators, like Hitler. According to one of Trump's former chiefs of staff, he saw Hitler as a model of leadership to follow during his time in the White House, even instructing the military as commander in chief. This goes beyond mere talk; it is a disturbing insight into Trump's mindset.

The 2024 election holds great importance for our democracy, and it is interesting to explore why Trump consistently praises dictators and who he is trying to connect with through this rhetoric. Some of it may be Trump expressing his own desires for the level of control he could have as president. He admires leaders like Hitler, Xi Jinping, and Putin because of their absolute power, not despite it. Trump echoes their cult of personality propaganda by depicting them as incredibly strong and feared, making resistance seem futile.

For example, Trump portrays Xi Jinping as being as "strong as granite" and ruling over 1.4 billion people with an iron fist. He also refers to Putin as a "genius" for effortlessly taking control of a vast country with a large population, seemingly overlooking the fierce resistance put up by Ukraine during the Russian invasion.

Foreign autocrats, especially those whom Trump deems beneficial to his political or personal interests, are often showered with compliments. One prominent example is Russia, with Kremlin involvement in the 2016 and 2020 elections. Similarly, the praise for Xi Jinping may be linked to the favors Trump received from the Chinese government while in office. House Democrats revealed that Trump-owned properties earned more than $5 million from Chinese government-affiliated entities.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen on a screen during a meeting with his confidants for the 2024 election at Gostiny Dvor in Moscow, Russia January 31, 2024. REUTERS/Maxim Shemetov

Russian President Vladimir Putin was spotted on a screen as he met with his trusted advisors to discuss the upcoming 2024 election at Gostiny Dvor in Moscow, Russia on January 31, 2024. The image was captured by photographer Maxim Shemetov for Reuters.

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Americans are the primary audience for Trump's praise of autocrats. His repeated admiration for dictators is part of a strategy to re-educate Americans. He aims to convince them that authoritarianism is a better form of government than democracy. By branding himself as a strongman leader, he convinces Americans that he can save them from chaos and crime, offering them an orderly authoritarian world under his control.

Propaganda is not just about spreading lies, like claiming he won the 2020 election. It is also about changing how people think and feel, and the connections they make with certain words. For example, Hitler's speeches and writings convinced Germans to associate "Jew" with disease and depravity, making him popular for persecuting Jews under the guise of saving Germany.

Trump is using his rallies and other public events to promote authoritarian leaders to his followers, portraying them as positive and glamorous figures. For instance, he once praised President Xi by saying, "There’s nobody in Hollywood that could play the role of President Xi." This tactic aims to make Americans view autocrats in a favorable light, believing that they are benefitting their people and the world.

When Trump acknowledges the repressive actions of these autocrats, he often justifies them. For example, he commended former Iraqi dictator Hussein in 2016 for being skilled at killing terrorists. Similarly, he referred to Turkish president Erdogan as "a friend of mine" who is governing "very, very strongly." This praise came at a time when Turkey was in a state of emergency, with over 47,000 arrests made as part of a government crackdown following the 2016 military coup attempt.

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Trump goes as far as to admire leaders of failing rogue states like North Korea's Kim Jong Un. He once mentioned, "We fell in love," when referring to his relationship with Kim, despite reports of the country earning half of its income from cybercrime in recent years.

American voters need to take Trump's admiration for autocrats seriously. He is showing us the type of leadership he will pursue if he is re-elected, and he is working hard to convince Americans to accept - or even want - a governance style that has historically led to despair, division, and even destruction, as seen in Hitler's Germany.

Autocrats, regardless of their political beliefs, share a common trait - they do not respect human rights or dignity, and they try to convince people that it is in their best interest to support governments that strip away their rights. It appears that Trump is also following this path. Even though the former president may claim he will only act like a dictator for a day, history shows us that once authoritarians seize power, they do not willingly give it up, and the strongmen he admires have held onto power for many years.

Editor's P/S:

The article exposes the disturbing admiration that former US President Donald Trump holds for authoritarian leaders. It provides evidence from his statements and actions, revealing his desire