Trump: Strongman or Snowflake?

By Rob C.

Art by Steve Benson

Donald Trump is running the Justice Department like it’s his personal hit squad. Every accusation he hurls is an admission of his own sins, whether it’s targeting political opponents, ordering extrajudicial killings, or whining about imaginary conspiracies (like the escalator “assassination attempt” that turned out to be his own staff hitting a button). He can’t decide if he’s a macho strongman or a fragile victim—but either way, he’s steering America straight into authoritarian wreckage.

The Tin-Pot Training Manual

Let’s start with a simple rule of Trumpism: every accusation is a confession. When the Spray Tan Don brags about “law and order,” what he really means is “my law, my order.” When he accuses others of corruption, you can bet he’s got both hands elbow-deep in the cookie jar.

Take Venezuela. Trump’s Justice Department proudly took credit for the extrajudicial killing of people on boats, accusing them of drug smuggling—with no evidence or legal authority. Or James Comey, indicted in a blatant act of political revenge. It’s the stuff of banana republics, only with more bronzer and denials.

Strongman or Snowflake?

Trump loves to cosplay the dictator. He struts, he shouts, he declares himself the alpha. But the moment reality intrudes, he collapses into his favorite role: victim of the “deep state,” the media, the weather, the teleprompter guy—you name it.

He wants to emulate Putin but ends up looking like a Real Housewives cast-off: all drama, no discipline. Is he the tough guy who can order Seal Team 6 to take out political rivals, or the fragile snowflake crying that the world is rigged against him? Pick a lane, Donnie.

Credit Theft and Blame Games

It’s an exhausting cycle: everything good is Trump’s doing, everything bad is Biden’s fault. COVID? Biden’s fault. Broken escalators? Biden’s fault. The fact that Trump still can’t close an umbrella properly? Probably Biden’s fault too.

Meanwhile, he brags about ending wars he had nothing to do with and taking credit for infrastructure projects started under Biden. It’s like your neighbor stealing your Amazon package and then expecting you to thank him for it.

The Propaganda Machine

Of course, this circus only works because right-wing media is running a 24/7 hype reel. FOX and friends beam out the image of Trump as both a fearless conqueror and a poor, persecuted martyr—the “Cheeto messiah” crucified daily by escalators, germs, and mean headlines. Corporate media owners like Sinclair and Nexstar are more than happy to keep the show running, pumping out “must runs” that sound more like North Korean state TV than American journalism.

Pathetic, but Dangerous

So here we are, trapped in the world’s worst reality show reboot. Trump plays the part of both emperor and eternal victim, depending on which sells better to his base. The contradictions would be laughable if they weren’t eroding democracy one tantrum at a time.

Because here’s the truth: pathetic clowns can still burn down the tent. And Trump has the matches.

Is he a strong man or a victim? Make up your mind, Donnie.

Take a deeper dive into how this kind of authoritarian playbook undermines democracy and hands the keys of government to billionaires and cronies, I cover it in my book Democracy for Sale. What we’re living through is exactly the scenario I warned about: corporate capture, authoritarian overreach, and the hollowing out of our democratic institutions.