<p>About 2,000 years ago, there was Caligula, the mad Roman Emperor – despotic, capricious, and cruel. India had its megalomaniac Sultan, Muhammad bin Tughlaq, widely remembered for decisions made in haste, specifically the shifting of capitals from Delhi to Daulatabad in Maharashtra, and back, causing death and misery to thousands of people. More recently, there were other tyrants like Idi Amin of Uganda and General Muammar Gaddafi of Libya. There were also a few authoritarian leaders who built prosperous nations and many who led their nations to ruin.</p>.<p>Donald Trump is unlike anyone before him though he does share characteristics with some of the autocrats of the past. He has been described as deranged, despotic, narcissistic, unpredictable, racist, and misogynist. Many felt he was an aberration and an insult to the idea of America. That has since been proven wrong with a decisive electoral victory. Emerson, speaking of Napoleon, said, “Every organ is made up of similars; that is, the lungs are composed of infinitely small lungs; the liver, of infinitely small livers; etc. Following this analogy, if any man is found to carry with him the power and affections of vast numbers, if Napoleon is France, it is because the people whom he sways are little Napoleons.’’ If Trump rode to power with the popular vote, it is because many Americans he wowed are little Trumps.</p>.<p>Liberals calling Trump a fascist in the mould of Adolf Hitler may be stretching it too far but Trump’s hatred of undocumented immigrants, his despicable language against those from impoverished African, Latin American, and Asian countries, and Muslims from the Middle East, and his vile obscenities against women and LGBTQ reveal his baser instincts. Topping the bizarre list was the idea of displacing Palestinians from Gaza, viewing the enclave as real estate, and turning it into a casino-lined beach destination. However, his calls to end wars are, indeed, welcome and will resonate with many, especially when one considers the aftermath of American military interventions in the past.</p>.Exceptional America, did you say?.<p>Pulitzer-winning <em>New York Times</em> columnist Thomas Friedman, taken aback by Trump’s friendly overtures to President Putin of Russia, compared the US president to mafia lords who share the spoils of territories – “I’II take Greenland, and you take Crimea. I’II take minerals from Ukraine. You can have oil in the Arctic. It’s only fair.” Trump has upended American foreign policy and turned the traditional American worldview on its head. In his perspective, Zelenskyy is a dictator; Putin is a friend.</p>.<p>Trump who takes pride in being the greatest deal-maker has come out of this deal looking like Putin’s poodle. If a ceasefire in Ukraine materialises on Trump’s terms, severely depleted Russian forces will manage a face-saving exit and Putin will find a way to extricate himself from the conflict. Essentially, Trump will make Putin a hero, giving more credence to rumours about a dark collaboration that gives Putin leverage over Trump. Of course, Trump and his carpetbaggers who have joined his government will gain access to Ukraine’s rich rare earths but the stature of America will diminish globally.</p>.<p>Then, there is Elon Musk, the newly anointed supra-constitutional authority heading the Department Of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Chainsaw-wielding Musk is running riot, issuing directions to lay off hundreds of thousands of employees across departments.</p>.<p>Trump said to justify charges that he was contemptuous of legal boundaries – “He who saves his country does not violate any law,” reminding one of Napoleon’s words – “They charge me with the commission of great crimes: men of my stamp do not commit crimes. Nothing has been more simple than my elevation, ‘tis in vain to ascribe it to intrigue or crime, it was owing to my reputation of having fought well against the enemies of my country. Of what use then would crimes be to me?”</p>.<p>Trump’s actions as president hark back to his days as a real estate mogul and reality TV star. He thrives by creating chaos and derives power from it. He surrounds himself with people who have conflicting views, he listens to everyone bypassing hierarchical structures. No one can second-guess him. There’s only one constant – he’s unpredictable.</p>.<p>With Trump destabilising world trade and singling out India with reciprocal tariffs, with the US sending back undocumented Indians like criminals shackled in chains, Indian policymakers and in particular diplomats must rethink how to deal with Trump’s America and build a strong nation amidst this chaos. Textbook diplomacy is passé. The global order is shifting – China has emerged as a superpower; bruised Russia is still a mighty nation and the US is cosying up to it. Can India tread its way out of the implosion?</p>.<p><em>(Capt G R Gopinath (Retd.) builds bridges, sometimes by tearing down walls. He is a soldier, farmer, and entrepreneur.)</em></p>.<p><em>Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH.</em></p>
<p>About 2,000 years ago, there was Caligula, the mad Roman Emperor – despotic, capricious, and cruel. India had its megalomaniac Sultan, Muhammad bin Tughlaq, widely remembered for decisions made in haste, specifically the shifting of capitals from Delhi to Daulatabad in Maharashtra, and back, causing death and misery to thousands of people. More recently, there were other tyrants like Idi Amin of Uganda and General Muammar Gaddafi of Libya. There were also a few authoritarian leaders who built prosperous nations and many who led their nations to ruin.</p>.<p>Donald Trump is unlike anyone before him though he does share characteristics with some of the autocrats of the past. He has been described as deranged, despotic, narcissistic, unpredictable, racist, and misogynist. Many felt he was an aberration and an insult to the idea of America. That has since been proven wrong with a decisive electoral victory. Emerson, speaking of Napoleon, said, “Every organ is made up of similars; that is, the lungs are composed of infinitely small lungs; the liver, of infinitely small livers; etc. Following this analogy, if any man is found to carry with him the power and affections of vast numbers, if Napoleon is France, it is because the people whom he sways are little Napoleons.’’ If Trump rode to power with the popular vote, it is because many Americans he wowed are little Trumps.</p>.<p>Liberals calling Trump a fascist in the mould of Adolf Hitler may be stretching it too far but Trump’s hatred of undocumented immigrants, his despicable language against those from impoverished African, Latin American, and Asian countries, and Muslims from the Middle East, and his vile obscenities against women and LGBTQ reveal his baser instincts. Topping the bizarre list was the idea of displacing Palestinians from Gaza, viewing the enclave as real estate, and turning it into a casino-lined beach destination. However, his calls to end wars are, indeed, welcome and will resonate with many, especially when one considers the aftermath of American military interventions in the past.</p>.Exceptional America, did you say?.<p>Pulitzer-winning <em>New York Times</em> columnist Thomas Friedman, taken aback by Trump’s friendly overtures to President Putin of Russia, compared the US president to mafia lords who share the spoils of territories – “I’II take Greenland, and you take Crimea. I’II take minerals from Ukraine. You can have oil in the Arctic. It’s only fair.” Trump has upended American foreign policy and turned the traditional American worldview on its head. In his perspective, Zelenskyy is a dictator; Putin is a friend.</p>.<p>Trump who takes pride in being the greatest deal-maker has come out of this deal looking like Putin’s poodle. If a ceasefire in Ukraine materialises on Trump’s terms, severely depleted Russian forces will manage a face-saving exit and Putin will find a way to extricate himself from the conflict. Essentially, Trump will make Putin a hero, giving more credence to rumours about a dark collaboration that gives Putin leverage over Trump. Of course, Trump and his carpetbaggers who have joined his government will gain access to Ukraine’s rich rare earths but the stature of America will diminish globally.</p>.<p>Then, there is Elon Musk, the newly anointed supra-constitutional authority heading the Department Of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Chainsaw-wielding Musk is running riot, issuing directions to lay off hundreds of thousands of employees across departments.</p>.<p>Trump said to justify charges that he was contemptuous of legal boundaries – “He who saves his country does not violate any law,” reminding one of Napoleon’s words – “They charge me with the commission of great crimes: men of my stamp do not commit crimes. Nothing has been more simple than my elevation, ‘tis in vain to ascribe it to intrigue or crime, it was owing to my reputation of having fought well against the enemies of my country. Of what use then would crimes be to me?”</p>.<p>Trump’s actions as president hark back to his days as a real estate mogul and reality TV star. He thrives by creating chaos and derives power from it. He surrounds himself with people who have conflicting views, he listens to everyone bypassing hierarchical structures. No one can second-guess him. There’s only one constant – he’s unpredictable.</p>.<p>With Trump destabilising world trade and singling out India with reciprocal tariffs, with the US sending back undocumented Indians like criminals shackled in chains, Indian policymakers and in particular diplomats must rethink how to deal with Trump’s America and build a strong nation amidst this chaos. Textbook diplomacy is passé. The global order is shifting – China has emerged as a superpower; bruised Russia is still a mighty nation and the US is cosying up to it. Can India tread its way out of the implosion?</p>.<p><em>(Capt G R Gopinath (Retd.) builds bridges, sometimes by tearing down walls. He is a soldier, farmer, and entrepreneur.)</em></p>.<p><em>Disclaimer: The views expressed above are the author's own. They do not necessarily reflect the views of DH.</em></p>
