TIO Public Square
The Monarch of Snark
by Robert P. Sellers
It is not a stretch to describe Donald Trump as a blend of the personalities of Benito Mussolini and Don Rickles. Intrigued by the notion that Trump is a complicated amalgam of authoritarian and comedian, I searched the internet for descriptions of the two imposing personalities:
Benito Mussolini (1883-1945) was a charismatic, narcissistic, and volatile dictator who founded Italian Fascism. Originally a socialist journalist, he pivoted to extreme nationalism, presenting himself as a fierce, hyper-masculine “man of action.” He was highly vain, erratic, and driven by a need for power, blending violence with theatrical public performances to create a cult of personality.
Don Rickles (1926-2017) was a legendary comedian and actor, known for his insult comedy and quick wit. He was often referred to as the “Insult King” due to his ability to deliver sharp and often unfiltered remarks, which resonated with audiences. Rickles’ humor was characterized by its broad cultural stereotypes and ad-libbed responses, making him a unique figure in comedy.
Donald Trump – charismatic, narcissistic, volatile, highly vain, erratic, driven by a need for power, an extreme nationalist who presents himself as a fierce, hyper-masculine man of action, known for his insults and sharp, unfiltered remarks, characterized by broad cultural stereotypes and ad-libbed responses – he is, in my mind, the unique figure in politics: a “Mussorickles.”
Trump the Authoritarian
I believe Trump is an “authoritarian” who aspires to be an “autocrat.” The two terms are similar but have distinct meanings. According to one source:
Authoritarian refers to a system of government where a single leader holds absolute power and makes decisions without input from others, often limiting political freedoms. Autocrat, on the other hand, is a more extreme form of authoritarianism where the leader's authority is not subject to legal or institutional constraints, and there is no form of democratic input or opposition.
Attempting to found his own version of American fascism, the president already believes he holds absolute power. He regularly makes decisions without input from others, launching the war in Iran as a perfect example. Often those decisions limit political freedoms, such as his sending ICE agents to the nation’s busiest airports, demeaning the lengthy training TSA agents must receive before screening passengers and baggage, as well as threatening the safety of all people of color whom those agents choose to detain or arrest. Trump yearns to become king, an absolute autocrat who does not tolerate any form of democratic input or opposition. To that end, like Mussolini, he is driven by a need for power and presents himself as a hyper-masculine man of action – envied by lesser men for his sexual conquests, praised for surviving two assassination attempts, and held up as a remarkable specimen for his supposed “perfect health” and passing marks on cognitive tests. He underestimates his opponents and puts others and the United States in danger because of his inflated view of his own popularity --“a lot of people are saying, ‘maybe we’d like a dictator.’”
Trump the Comedian
I believe Trump considers himself an entertainer, a comedian who amuses his followers with his sharp tongue and mean remarks. While some humor is light, good-natured comedy enjoyed by everyone, Trump’s humor is dark, hurtful ridicule that gets laughs by targeting someone else. Don Rickles made his career being “The Merchant of Venom,” and no one was safe from his insults or mockery. Bob Newhart, however, praised Rickles as “one of the kindest, caring, and most sensitive human beings we have ever known.” Trump, former reality television host of The Apprentice, sees himself as a “personality,” a star (“When you’re a star … you can do anything” to women). Don had a schtick that amused his fans and so does Donald, but when he passes, no one will praise Trump as “one of the kindest, caring, and most sensitive human beings we have ever known.”
As Mussorickles, Trump’s record of insults hurled at America’s allies, already in the opening months of his second term in office, is an embarrassment to our country and to the office of President.
On October 20, 2025, Trump was scheduled to hold bilateral talks with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Prior to the Oval Office meeting, Trump exchanged barbs with Australian Ambassador to the U.S., Kevin Rudd. Before becoming ambassador, Rudd in 2020 had called Trump “the most destructive president in history.” But at that White House meeting, Rudd was not prepared to face a man who never seems to forget a personal slight. Trump had earlier called the Australian “nasty” and “not the brightest bulb in the shed,” so it was not surprising he greeted the ambassador with the degrading insult: “I don’t like you either, and I probably never will.”
At the World Economic Forum at Davos, Switzerland, on January 21, 2026, Trump was in rare Mussorickles form. Relations between the U. S. and Europe were strained over Trump’s desire to take over Greenland when he stood to speak. Looking at a roomful of political and economic leaders from many of America’s European allies, Trump claimed “Certain places in Europe are not even recognizable anymore,” and “Without the United States, you don’t have a country.”
Using Denmark’s defeat by Germany in WWII as the reason it was too weak to retain control of Greenland, Trump bragged: "Without us, right now, you'd all be speaking German and a little Japanese perhaps. After the war, we gave Greenland back to Denmark. How stupid were we to do that? But we did it. But we gave it back. But how ungrateful are they now?"
He mocked France’s President Emmanuel Macron for wearing sunglasses during his speech – necessary because of his eye condition – with a snarky comment, “What the hell happened?” He then related how he had tried to persuade Macron to raise prices on prescription drugs or suffer heavy tariffs, but he had said “No, no, Donald. I will not do it,” failing miserably to imitate the French leader’s accent.
Responding to the Canadian Prime Minister’s speech the day before, Trump said: “Canada gets a lot of freebies from us, by the way. They should be grateful also, but they’re not. I watched your prime minister yesterday. He wasn’t so grateful. But … Canada lives because of the United States. Remember that, Mark, the next time you make your statements.”
Taking aim at Switzerland, the Forum’s host country, Trump suggested: “"I know so many people from Switzerland. Incredible place, incredible brilliant place. But I then realized that they're only good because of us."
Trump then insulted the United Kingdom for the way they handle their own oil industry. Criticizing them, he said that the UK is "sitting on top of the North Sea, one of the greatest reserves anywhere in the world, but they don't use it, and that's one reason why their energy has reached catastrophically low levels, with equally high prices" [Ibid.].
Perhaps the most startling remark to a world leader Trump has made, however, took place on March 19, 2026, in a White House meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. When a Japanese journalist asked Trump why the U.S. had not alerted its allies, including Japan, that it was going to strike Iran on February 28, Trump tried to be clever: "Who knows better about surprise than Japan? Why didn't you tell me about Pearl Harbor?," Trump said as the prime minister visibly reacted to the afront. “Why didn’t you tell me your plans?” – despite the fact that the Pearl Harbor attack happened 4½ years before Trump was born, or that the United States and Japan have become close allies following WWII.
An Analysis of Trump’s Insult Humor
Donald Trump thinks it is funny to insult people he doesn’t like. In addition to world leaders, especially America’s allies, he attacks movie stars, television personalities, news journalists, political opponents and victims of discrimination – prisoners of war, trans athletes, the disabled, sexual assault survivors. He even slurs religious leaders.
Nick Butler, professor at Stockholm University, in his book The Trouble with Jokes, says that certain kinds of humor in political discourse “thrive on transgression and outrage.” At the Public Square, “jokes obscure the line between silliness and sincerity. As a result, jokes lower our defenses against objectionable ideologies and fuel some of the most worrying political trends today.”
According to academics Matt Sienkiewicz and Nick Marx, there now exists a ‘right-wing comedy complex,’ which includes conservative radio shows, podcasts and internet memes. And in this comedy complex, alt-right trolls mix with elected politicians.
The more extreme the politics, the more humour is useful. Telling an offensive joke serves up prejudice and hatred with a side order of irony. Delivered with a nod and a wink, humour reassures us that it’s all just “a bit of fun” [Ibid.].
Professor Butler asks why offensive jokes are so appeaing as a form of political discourse. He suggests one answer can be found in the work of Sigmund Freud. In his 1905 book, The Joke and its Relation to the Unconscious, Freud argued that
jokes – especially offensive ones – reveal our inner urges. We are trained from an early age to be kind and polite to other people. Over time, we learn to restrain our selfish desires and feral instincts. But offensive jokes let us temporarily pause social prohibitions and flirt with our innermost fantasies.
Trump has extensive experience flirting with his innermost fantasies. Insulting humor is one of his signature rhetorical tools, “blending hyperbole, mockery, and memorable nicknames to diminish opponents, dominate media narratives, and entertain supporters. Trump focuses on physical appearance, intelligence, and perceived weakness, creating a ‘hypermasculine’ and confrontational public image.”
Perhaps Trump’s favorite put-down is the word “sick.” James Comey is “either very sick or very dumb.” Nancy Pelosi is a “sick woman.” Adam Schiff is “probably a very sick man.” Jimmy Kimmel is a “sick freak.” Kamala Harris is “sick.” Hallie Kristas, a licensed mental health counselor, explains that “When someone repeatedly uses the word ‘sick’ as an insult, it often reflects a worldview that labels others, reducing disagreement or dislike to a sense that the other person is defective or abnormal.”
Psychiatrist and counseling center owner Manahil Riaz agrees:
When someone jumps to the word “sick” without really explaining anything else, I think it often suggests that this person might tend to “other” people or things that they just [simply don’t] understand. Maybe they’re not comfortable with the ambiguity and the complexity of issues or people. So, if their worldview doesn’t fit what’s happening, then instead of trying to understand it, they create some sort of emotional distance by dismissing it or name calling it [Ibid.].
Conclusion
There can be little doubt that Trump is an authoritarian who aspires to become an autocrat – crafting a new fascist America, perhaps after the model of Mussolini. I believe there is equal evidence he considers himself a crafty comedian – a master of insult humor, maybe like Rickles. Trump gives new meaning to the familiar term “bully pulpit,” because his pulpit is the most prominent in the United States and he is America’s biggest bully.
He dreams of becoming America’s King, of being crowned someday – metaphorically if not literally. To my mind, however, there is only one royal title the man deserves.
Donald Trump is the Monarch of Snark.
