Machiavellian = trump
Definition = cunning, scheming, and unscrupulous, especially in politics
The Oxford dictionary goes on to explain the Machiavellian philosophy as “a whole range of outrageous Machiavellian maneuvers”
Trump uses the Machiavellian maneuver known as The Lion and the Fox - brute force (the lion) with cunning/manipulation (the fox) to navigate crises and control the public perception, using “black propaganda” and social media to undermine opponents and dominate news cycles. And of course, the most Machiavellian of all rapid, decisive “punishment” against rivals to ensure long-term stability and compliance.
A Machiavellian character is a manipulative, cynical, and calculating person who prioritizes self-interest and power over morality, often viewing others as tools to achieve their goals. Rooted in Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Prince, these individuals use deceit and strategy to maintain control, commonly known as “high-Machs”. (Psychology Today)
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli was a Florentine diplomat, author, philosopher, and historian who lived during the Italian Renaissance. (wiki)
He is best known for his political treatise The Prince (Il Principe), written around 1513. One of the main themes in the treatise is that immoral acts are sometimes necessary to achieve political glory.
Machiavelli’s The Prince, posits that leaders should prioritize maintaining power over moral considerations – thus “The end justifies the means” Machiavelli believed that, for a ruler, it was better to be widely feared than to be greatly loved; a loved ruler retains authority by obligation, while a feared leader rules by fear of punishment. I think Trump must have had someone read this to him since he can’t read himself.
Psychology Today describes the Machiavellian:
Manipulation: Uses charm, flattery, guilt, or deception to get their way.
Amorality: Disregards conventional ethics, believing “the ends justify the means”.
Cynicism: Holds a bleak view of human nature, believing people are inherently weak or manipulative.
Strategic Planning: Highly calculating and emotionally detached, allowing them to make cold decisions.
Goal-Oriented: Focused entirely on gaining power, status, or achieving specific objectives.
Relationships: Using charm to gain trust, followed by emotional manipulation or gaslighting to maintain control.
Social Situations: Spreading rumors or embellishing stories to manipulate others’ perceptions for personal gain.
The Bulwark wrote, “DONALD TRUMP HAS BEEN TALKING A LOT about heaven lately. He says he’s afraid that he might not get first-class seating in the afterlife. Maybe he doesn’t mean it, or maybe in his waning years he’s contemplating what might come next. Either way, let’s encourage it, because nothing in this world—voters, Congress, the Supreme Court—has managed to restrain his worst impulses. Perhaps fear of the world to come can do the trick.” Machiavelli in on his death bed said, “I desire to go to Hell and not to Heaven. In the former I shall enjoy the company of popes, kings and princes, while in the latter are only beggars, monks and apostles”. He died in 1527 following a stomach illness.
To sum up trump and the Machiavellian connection. “These three traits are (1) Machiavellianism, centered on manipulativeness and indifference to morality; (2) narcissism, characterized by a grandiose sense of self-importance and excessive self-love; and (3) psychopathy, characterized by a lack of empathy and antisocial behavior.” (Science Direct). He joins famous Machiavellian figures like Joseph Stalin, Richard Nixon, Pol Pot, Xi Jinping, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Viktor Orban and Benjamin Netanyahu.
Or if we want another view on Trumpism, here is a list of phrases narcissists use regularly. As a Harvard-trained psychologist (Dr. Cortney Warren on CNBC), “I’ve found that there are seven phrases you’ll hear from highly narcissistic people:
‘You’re lucky I even care. ‘ ...
‘You’re so pathetic. ‘ ...
‘You need me. ‘ ...
‘You are wrong to feel that way. ‘ ...
‘Everyone else is an idiot. ‘ ...
‘My feelings are your fault. ‘ ...
‘I don’t have time for this. ‘