Donald Trump’s entire persona is built around the idea of kingship. His golden-gilded New York City apartment, his patinated walls, Queen Anne sofas, and French provincial furnishings at Mar-a-Lago — these are not the trappings of a man who sees himself as a public servant. These are the symbols of monarchy, of unchecked power. But what is unchecked power? It is the more than 3,500 legal actions in federal and state courts spanning three decades — and counting. It is the Supreme Court granting him near-unlimited power, reinforcing his belief that the rules do not apply to him. It is the absence of personal accountability, let alone legal responsibility, despite a lifetime of deception, manipulation, and misconduct.
In his mind, the world bows to him. He is not bound by the rules; he is the exception to them. Is there any other way he could see himself? You might call him a narcissist, an egomaniac, a braggart, or a self-seeker, but when analyzing Trump, it is critical to understand how he sees himself. Because only by understanding his thinking can we fully confront his behavior.
Trump’s business was a one-man operation where he barked orders and expected absolute loyalty. His financial support from American oligarchs are often opportunists, fearing condemnation or MAGA retribution. His approach to leadership is not collaborative but authoritative, expecting deference rather than debate.
Yet, what’s missing in his worldview is the foundational understanding of governance, diplomacy, and service. His engagement with geopolitics is as shallow as a television viewer absorbing the nightly news. He understands political relationships the way a novice does — through emotion, spectacle, and the perception of strength rather than the actual nuance of policy and international cooperation.
No one person knows more than everyone else. The most knowledgeable and successful leaders rely on their generals, their cabinet members, and their experts to do their jobs. One person cannot possibly do everything alone — otherwise, there are too many opportunities for failure. A man who has never served in the military logically cannot know more than those who have. He must rely on intelligence from experienced leadership. A man who has never gone without a meal cannot comprehend the fear of hunger. A man who has never faced medical debt cannot know the sting of uncertainty felt by those who live with that trauma daily.
No, Mr. Trump, you do not know more than everyone else about everything. But you do know how to win. That is clear. You know which people to manipulate to achieve that aim — whether by lying about them, to them, or with them. That, too, is clear.
A nation that has spent the last 75 years building global dominance is now asked to retreat into its coffers because a leader who sees himself as a would-be king does not know how to navigate world collaboration and global leadership.
He is no king. He is only a reminder that you can fool some of the people all of the time, and you can fool all of the people some of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.
We know that you see yourself as a king, but may we remind you, Mr. President — you are a servant of the people.
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