Authoritarianism expert Ruth Ben-Ghiat says Donald Trump is falling into the same trap that has undone authoritarian-minded leaders throughout history. Andrew Harnik / Getty ImagesDespite declining approval ratings, Ben-Ghiat argued in a guest essay for the New York Times that the president is making the age-old error of believing his own hype. “I have seen this brand of strongman megalomania and the adverse effects it can ultimately have on leaders and their governments,” wrote Ben-Ghiat, the author of Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present. Contributor / Getty ImagesBen-Ghiat has long drawn parallels between Trump and past dictators. Chip Somodevilla / Getty ImagesShe has previously noted that his bombastic self-praise echoes a fascist slogan from Mussolini’s Italy: “Mussolini is always right.”This article originally appeared on HuffPost.

Source: New York Times February 07, 2026 19:36 UTC