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.
I’m not American but this seems overly optimistic. No dictator rules alone. They all run with the helping hand of some kind of “Politburo” and I think there are enough smart people that support his ambitions and that are more than ready to take power.
He has everything he needs to become a dictator.
The rest of the population will simply fall in line. Because of fear (job loss, …). Because they are bought (tax breaks, …). Because they themselves are getting in a position of (small) power or because of ideology (“christian values”, nationalism, …).
Don’t be fooled into thinking that Americans will rise up early enough to save you. History shows: They won’t.
Go vote!