by Kate Wheeler | Feb 2, 2026 | Donald Trump, The Authoritarian Playbook
The New York Times, February 1, 2026 Today, President Trump appears to be testing the depths of the hole into which he can throw himself — and drag America with him. He faces falling approval ratings and growing unpopularity for his domestic and foreign policies,... by Kate Wheeler | Jan 17, 2026 | Donald Trump, The Authoritarian Playbook, Writing
Project Syndicate, December 5, 2025 Every aspiring autocrat who takes power in a free society makes use of time-tested measures and methods to delegitimize and ultimately vanquish democracy. US President Donald Trump is no exception. But the Trump administration is... by Ruth Ben-Ghiat | Jun 17, 2025 | Donald Trump, Propaganda, The Authoritarian Playbook, Writing
The New York Times, June 15, 2025 President Trump, a former reality television star whose administration includes several former Fox News personalities, knows a good image can go far. In the space of a week, the American public has been treated to two highly unusual... by Ruth Ben-Ghiat | Feb 11, 2025 | Donald Trump, Lucid, The Authoritarian Playbook, Writing
Lucid, February 2, 2025 It seems like the plot of a political thriller. We are living through a new kind of coup in which Elon Musk, the richest man in the world, has taken over the payment and other administration systems that allow the American government to... by Ruth Ben-Ghiat | Feb 11, 2025 | Democracy, Donald Trump, The Authoritarian Playbook, Writing
The New York Times, January 30, 2025 At a campaign rally in Virginia in June, Donald Trump hinted at the new kind of relationship America might have with Russia, China and North Korea if he were to be re-elected. “If you have a smart president, they’re not enemies,”... by Ruth Ben-Ghiat | Dec 6, 2024 | Donald Trump, The Authoritarian Playbook
MSNBC, December 6, 2024 Authoritarian leaders do not lack negative character traits — most of them are insecure, obsessed with revenge, vain and brutal. But many are family men, in their own fashion. Relatives often figure prominently in their inner circles, alongside...