It is hardly a little-known fact that Donald J. Trump does not merely possess an ego. He appears to be in a long-term, exclusive and extremely public relationship with it. Few political figures in modern history have made their own personality such a central part of their political identity.

From outside the United States, this phenomenon is particularly striking.

We have seen wealthy businessmen, political leaders and celebrities cultivate enormous egos. It is hardly unusual. People who build companies, fortunes or political movements generally need a powerful belief in themselves. Without confidence, ambition often goes nowhere.

But Trump is different.

He does not attempt to conceal his ego behind carefully managed public relations. He puts it directly on display. He boasts, exaggerates, challenges his critics and repeatedly presents himself as the central character in almost every political story.

Some Americans find that refreshing. Others see it as exhausting. Some believe Trump deliberately uses his ego to provoke opponents and dominate the news cycle. Others believe the same characteristic could eventually become one of his greatest political weaknesses.

From a foreign perspective, there is something fascinating about the way Trump transformed his own name into a global political and commercial brand.

Everything became “Trump”: towers, hotels, golf courses, steaks, water, television programs, political slogans and eventually a presidential movement. The name stopped functioning merely as a surname and became a marketing device.

Trump does not simply describe success. He amplifies it.

A large crowd becomes the greatest crowd. A political achievement becomes historic. A negotiation becomes the greatest deal. A criticism becomes evidence that the establishment is threatened by him.

Even his physical appearance has become part of the brand. The distinctive hair, the orange-tinted complexion and the unmistakable gestures are immediately recognizable across the world. Trump does not simply have a public image; he has become an........

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