How the Failed Orange Prince Became a Global Laughingstock

Machiavelli argued that it is better to be feared than loved. Donald Trump fails at both internationally—and it makes him dangerous.

In The Prince, Niccolò Machiavelli states it is ideal to be both loved and feared, but because they rarely coexist, it is safer to be feared than loved. He argues that fear is more reliable than love, which is fickle, but crucially advises that a leader must avoid being hated. Donald Trump wants to be an autocrat who follows this advice but fails at it miserably on the international stage, and the world is in greater danger because of this.

Donald Trump has had success with this model inside the United States, to be sure. He is loved by a few, hated by many, and feared by all. Institutions routinely cave to his demands, including individuals, corporations, law firms, hospitals, and universities, even when those demands violate state or federal law.

The Republican Party has become the Party of Trump, where the organizational platform is whatever Trump says it is today. Indeed, Republicans are so afraid of Trump that they have all united around unrealities, like January 6 being a peaceful protest. To paraphrase George Orwell, “The president told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was his final, most essential command.” To do otherwise means losing your office at best, and being indicted by the Trump Department of Justice at worst.

Trump, however, does not have such leverage over people living in other countries, or their leaders. He is widely despised in educated, democratic countries, which even a year ago had no confidence in his leadership. Today, most people of the world express significantly higher approval of China’s despotic,........

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