For years, critics — from political rivals to international observers — have drawn troubling parallels between former President Trump and authoritarian leaders, citing his rhetoric and his effort to overturn the 2020 election. Meanwhile, Trump and his supporters have consistently brushed off these comparisons, dismissing them as nothing more than politically charged exaggerations.
But Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a professor of history and Italian studies at New York University, knows a thing or two about authoritarian leaders — and their troubling legacies. In an exclusive interview with Katie Couric, she said that Trump has displayed autocratic tendencies, highlighting his aggressive use of tariffs and his tight grip on his party, which leaves little room for dissent.
“[Trump’s] been emboldened to think he’s a genius and that his instincts are right,” says Ben-Ghiat. “And we have religious institutions telling him that everything he does is by divine will, so this is a pattern in history where a leader will make truly idiotic decisions but won’t listen to anyone.”
Ben-Ghiat went on to compare Trump to Benito Mussolini, the fascist dictator of Italy who ruled from 1922 to 1943. “In fascist Italy, the slogan was literally, ‘Mussolini is always right,’” she said, noting, “It’s a pathology of autocratic rule, and it’s deeply troubling to see us experiencing it today.”
She also points out that Trump has surrounded himself with officials and loyalists, including billionaire advisor Elon Musk, who tend to support his decisions without offering much challenge.
“We have an unelected co-leader, Elon Musk, who’s been able to bring his digital and physical shock troops, in a way, and take over government agencies and wreck them at will — even locking out our elected representatives,” she said referring to Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency and its gutting of federal agencies.
Though Ben-Ghiat (who publishes Lucid, a Substack “for big-picture thinking about autocracy”) is cautious about the future of the government, she remains hopeful about the resilience of the public. “I am an optimist about human nature,” she said. “One of my maxims is never underestimate the American people.”
To hear more of Ben-Ghiat’s insights on the state of our democracy and Trump’s latest round of executive orders, watch her full interview with Katie Couric, above.
