Despite disparagement from John Bolton, critics maintain Trump is clear threat to democracy, given admiration for dictators

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/18473652

A former national security adviser in the Donald Trump White House has said that the ex-president “hasn’t got the brains” to helm a dictatorship, despite his admiration for such rulers.

In an interview with the conservative French outlet Le Figaro, John Bolton, 75, was asked whether Trump had tendencies that mirror dictators like the ones he has previously praised. Bolton not only disparaged Trump’s intellectual capacity, he also disparaged the former president’s professional background, exclaiming: “He’s a property developer, for God’s sake!”

Now a vocal critic of Trump, Bolton served as the former president’s national security adviser from April 2018 to September 2019. Bolton had previously served as US ambassador to the UN during George W Bush’s presidency, developing a reputation as a foreign policy hawk.

Bolton’s remarks to Le Figaro suggesting Trump is not smart enough to be a dictator will almost certainly do little to allay fears on the political left at home or abroad about a second Trump presidency.

After all, Trump has suggested he plans to be a dictator, if only for the first day of his presidency if he were re-elected.

  • BarqsHasBite@lemmy.caEnglish
    19·
    7 months ago

    What I’m realizing is that fascism is not strictly top down. It’s also bottom up. Some people at all levels want this and will act without direct orders.

    • Dagwood222English
      16·
      7 months ago

      Back in WW2 the Occupied French put it this way; it isn’t the big Hitler in Berlin that makes our lives miserable, it’s the million little Hitlers in Paris who make us suffer.

    • Son_of_dad@lemmy.worldEnglish
      4·
      7 months ago

      It does work from the bottom down if you think about it. The small elections people don’t bother with, like school board positions and such, are where the fascist Karens thrive and it’s where they can do damage like fuck up your kids lives and education with their bullshit.

    • LostWon@lemmy.caEnglish
      3·
      7 months ago

      I guess in a way it can be thought of as virulent ideological malevolence.