this post was submitted on 25 Mar 2026
30 points (94.1% liked)

askchapo

23248 readers
238 users here now

Ask Hexbear is the place to ask and answer ~~thought-provoking~~ questions.

Rules:

  1. Posts must ask a question.

  2. If the question asked is serious, answer seriously.

  3. Questions where you want to learn more about socialism are allowed, but questions in bad faith are not.

  4. Try !feedback@hexbear.net if you're having questions about regarding moderation, site policy, the site itself, development, volunteering or the mod team.

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
PorkrollPosadist@hexbear.net
replaceable@hexbear.net
VILenin@hexbear.net
SexUnderSocialism@hexbear.net
Wakmrow@hexbear.net
abc@hexbear.net
30
Historical comparisons to Trump? (hexbear.net)
submitted 4 days ago by Dr_Pepper@hexbear.net to c/askchapo@hexbear.net
28 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

What historical figures (recent or ancient) can compare to Trump?

Liberals will of course say Putin (which of course they know nothing about), but in my limited knowledge, Putin gained support by reighning in oligarchs and stabilizing the country. Trump is doing the opposite of this.

In my limited knowledge, he seems most like Boris Yeltsin. A complete dolt and perfect avatar for the terminal stage of a failed empire.

I think certain traits are unprecedented. He may be the most anti-social leader in history. His administration is doing things that don't make sense on a societal level, like defunding research for extreme weather and disease prevention.

Maybe this is just the most extreme form of narcissism on history: the entire world can end as long as I get what I want.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] Caitycat@hexbear.net 4 points 4 days ago (4 children)

I've not done much to read up on this specifically, but I have some friends who really like comparing Trump to Napoleon for some reason.

[–] Mardoniush@hexbear.net 8 points 4 days ago

Napoleon I no, since he was a genuinely extremely talented and historically progressive figure (this term doesn't mean good, though he was better than all the monarchies of Europe). Even given the restriction of material conditions, someone like Robespierre or Hebert or Babeuf (let alone any of the useless Thermidorians) probably would not have changed things so fast or so completely.

Now Napoleon III? Absolutely.

[–] Euergetes@hexbear.net 5 points 4 days ago

the english have spent 2 centuries heaping trash on Napoleon, such that english speakers routinely think Napoleon was a buffoon lashing out on account of being short. an image you could compare to Trump if you squint, i guess.

[–] Dr_Pepper@hexbear.net 2 points 4 days ago

'Bonapartism' is similar to Trumpism, but Trump is pretty much entirely focused on himself and has no military experience.

[–] plinky@hexbear.net 2 points 4 days ago

read 18th brumaire to find out more (about the third, to be precise)