Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a history professor at New York University and anti-Trump author, suggested that the assassination attempt on former President Trump illustrates how autocrats can use crises to bolster their power, drawing parallels to an attempt on the life of the Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.
In her column for Politico Magazine, she discussed how both leaders leveraged these life-threatening incidents to enhance their strongman images, often using images of themselves post-assassination to evoke sympathy from their supporters.
“By presenting himself as a survivor, Trump catered to his personality cult, assuring millions of his loyal followers that he was resilient and undefeated, akin to Mussolini’s actions nearly a century ago,” Ben-Ghiat stated, adding, “The real concern lies in what may unfold next.”
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Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a liberal author and history professor at NYU, contended that the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump makes him increasingly similar to Italian dictator Benito Mussolini. (Archive Photos / Stringer | Brandon Bell / Staff)
She opened her column by recounting Mussolini’s third assassination attempt, executed by Violet Gibson, a British pacifist who shot him while he was in Rome after a speech in 1926.
Ben-Ghiat elaborated on how Mussolini strategically utilized this incident to further his own political ambitions, stating, “Mussolini, a trained journalist, meticulously crafted his image, posing for photos post-attack with his bandaged injuries, which became a form of honor. Each failed attempt fed into his personality cult, reinforcing perceptions of his strength, resilience, and invincibility.”
She then directly compared this to Trump’s experience, who, after being shot in the ear in Butler, Pennsylvania last month by a near-miss AR-15 shot, rose from cover and rallied his supporters to “Fight, fight, fight!” This moment was vividly captured in photographs.
Although Ben-Ghiat recognized that Trump cannot directly use this moment to enhance his political power, she argued that “the assassination attempt has reinforced Trump’s personality cult, making his positioning as a victim more believable for his supporters. His image as an unyielding fighter is now solidified. And he is aware of this.”
“Familiarity with the conduct of strongmen provides crucial context for understanding Trump’s reactions immediately following the shooting. While most individuals would instinctively seek safety, Trump took a different approach,” she noted.
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Benito Mussolini and Adolf Hitler observe a Nazi parade staged for the Italian dictator’s visit to Germany. (Getty Images) (Getty Images)
Ben-Ghiat continued, pointing out that Mussolini capitalized on the attack to consolidate more power in Italy, ensuring immunity from governmental oversight. She cautioned that such incidents often amplify a leader’s personality cult and lend credence to notions of their power and the necessity of stringent laws to protect the nation from crime.
“This trend has been evident with Trump, whose supporters have rallied around the shooting and even suggested divine intervention in his survival. The incident occurs amidst a climate of increased political violence that Trump has further mainstreamed,” she asserted.
She further expressed that “This horrific assassination attempt will reinforce” Trump’s narrative that both he and his supporters are under attack, further strengthening their connection and volatility. “Follower groups tied to authoritarian leaders can exhibit heightened volatility when their leader is in peril.”
Ben-Ghiat concluded that “In this context, Mussolini’s bandaged nose and Trump’s bandaged ear both illustrate how autocrats exploit crises to amplify their power at the expense of democracy.”
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