Trump’s second coming: A dictator in all but name?
Donald Trump’s second inaugural speech showcased an authoritarian manifesto, blending messianic self-aggrandisement, disdain for democratic norms, and admiration for dictators, marking a profound shift toward personality-driven, divisive governance.
Highlights from this story
● Donald Trump’s second inaugural address emphasised authoritarianism, self-mythology, and messianic leadership claims.
● His rhetoric promotes personality politics, stokes cultural division, and erases marginalised voices.
● Territorial expansion rhetoric threatens global stability, democracy, and allies’ sovereignty.
D onald Trump’s return to the White House as the 47th president of the United States marks a political comeback unlike any other. But his inaugural address, filled with self-aggrandisement, sweeping authoritarian promises, and delusional claims about his leadership, highlights something far deeper and more disturbing than mere rhetoric.
Trump’s speech was less a policy blueprint and more a manifesto of a man consumed by his own mythology. This leader fancies himself a “strongman” in the vein of the very autocrats he has openly admired for years.
This is not just politics as usual. This is a presidency built on a cult of personality, where Trump’s delusions about himself and his place in history take precedence over reality, democracy, or even the rule of law.
A Messiah Complex: Trump’s Divine ‘Mission’
Trump’s speech was littered with references to his supposed personal destiny, with the man himself adopting a messianic tone that bordered on the absurd. At one point, he claimed, “I was saved by God to make America great again,” referencing the assassination attempt on his life during the 2024 campaign. This claim, delivered with dramatic flair, paints Trump not just as a leader but as a figure chosen by divine intervention to save the nation.
This messiah-like self-perception is not new for Trump. In 2019, he referred to himself as “the Chosen One” while discussing trade with China. His willingness to see himself as a singular, almost supernatural force in American politics has been a hallmark of his leadership style. For his followers, this rhetoric reinforces the idea that Trump is above the fray of ordinary politics — a saviour, not a president.
But this self-aggrandising delusion also feeds into his broader disregard for democratic norms. By framing himself as a uniquely ordained leader, Trump positions any opposition — whether from political rivals, the media, or even the judiciary — as not just wrong but illegitimate. There is no room for dissent in his worldview because he alone embodies the nation’s will.
Trump’s Love Affair with Dictators
Throughout his political career, Trump has openly admired authoritarian leaders, expressing respect — and even envy — for their unchecked power. During his first term, he praised Vladimir Putin as a “strong leader”, marvelled at Kim Jong Un’s grip on North Korea, and called Xi Jinping’s indefinite rule in China “great”. He even admitted calling him “king of China” and wanting “my people” to treat him with the same adoration shown to Kim Jong Un in state-choreographed rallies.
In this second inaugural address, Trump’s rhetoric seemed to channel these authoritarian tendencies. He railed against a “radical and corrupt establishment”, accusing his political opponents of “betrayals” and painting himself as the only figure capable of restoring order. His promise to end what he called the “weaponisation of the Justice Department” sounds less like a commitment to impartial justice and more like a vow to use the government as a tool to crush his enemies — a hallmark of every dictator he has openly admired.
Further reinforcing this is his pledge to create a new Department of Government Efficiency, a name that evokes chilling echoes of autocratic regimes consolidating power under the guise of “streamlining”. Critics argue that such a department could serve as a vehicle for Trump to bypass congressional oversight, politicise civil service, and centralise power in the executive branch, which moves more befitting of a dictatorship than a democracy.
— Will Trump behave like a king?
Personality Politics
Trump’s inaugural speech was filled with references to his own greatness. He described his 2024 election win as “the greatest and most consequential in the history of our country” and claimed a “mandate” to reverse the “horrible betrayal” of past administrations. While every president likes to claim a strong mandate, Trump’s exaggeration borders on delusion.
His tendency to inflate his accomplishments isn’t just a character flaw — it’s central to the cult of personality he has built around himself. Trump’s version of reality isn’t grounded in facts or measurable success. Instead, it’s shaped by his need to constantly project strength, even when that projection comes at the expense of truth.
What makes this cult of personality particularly dangerous is how it has reshaped American politics. To his most ardent supporters, Trump is America. Criticism of him is seen not as a political debate but as an attack on the country itself. This dynamic creates a feedback loop in which Trump’s base becomes more radicalised while he becomes more emboldened to pursue increasingly extreme measures to consolidate power.
The End of ‘Wokeness’ or the Start of Cultural Repression?
Trump’s authoritarian tendencies are perhaps most evident in his cultural agenda, which he frames as a ‘war against wokeness’. In his inaugural address, he declared that “there are only two genders, male and female” and pledged to enshrine this into U.S. government policy. He also vowed to end the teaching of what he called “radical political theories” in schools, claiming that America’s education system teaches children to “hate our country”.
Trump’s authoritarian tendencies are perhaps most evident in his cultural agenda, which he frames as a war against “wokeness.” In his inaugural address, he declared that “there are only two genders, male and female” and pledged to enshrine this into U.S. government policy. He also vowed to end the teaching of what he called “radical political theories” in schools, claiming that America’s education system teaches children to “hate our country.”
Trump promised to sign an executive order that would roll back protections for transgender people, effectively dismantling existing anti-discrimination policies and leaving some of the nation’s most vulnerable individuals without safeguards in housing, healthcare, education, and employment. In the same breath, he pledged to terminate diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programmes across the federal government, claiming such initiatives were “social experiments” that undermine meritocracy. By eliminating DEI programmes and rolling back protections for transgender individuals, Trump is taking direct aim at decades of progress in civil rights.
These statements reflect an overt attempt to legislate cultural and personal identity in a way that harkens back to repressive regimes. By denying the existence of transgender and nonbinary people and eliminating discussions about systemic inequality, Trump is not just stoking division — he is actively erasing marginalised voices from the public sphere.
Critics warn that such policies will have devastating consequences. Civil rights organisations have already condemned Trump’s rhetoric as a direct attack on LGBTQ+ communities, while educators argue that his approach undermines critical thinking and academic freedom. But for Trump, this cultural war isn’t about policy — it’s about power. By turning wokeness into a catch-all enemy, he gives his supporters a rallying cry that justifies authoritarian measures in the name of “common sense”.
The Immigration Crackdown: A Return to Cruelty
Trump’s vision for immigration policy, as outlined in his address, marks a dramatic escalation of his hardline approach from his first term. Declaring a national emergency at the southern border, he promised to “immediately halt illegal entry” and begin the process of deporting “millions and millions of criminal aliens.” This sweeping pledge recalls the most extreme elements of his first presidency, including family separations and mass deportations, which drew widespread condemnation from human rights organisations.
“We will send troops to the southern border to repel the disastrous invasion of our country,” he said, likening immigration to a military assault. Such language is not only inflammatory but dangerously reductive, equating families fleeing violence with armed enemies.
His plan also includes reinstating his controversial ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy, which forces asylum seekers to wait in dangerous conditions outside U.S. borders, and invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 to grant the federal government unprecedented powers to target and expel immigrants. Critics argue these policies amount to a dehumanising assault on immigrant communities and will exacerbate the suffering of vulnerable individuals fleeing violence and persecution.
Beyond the humanitarian implications, Trump’s immigration rhetoric also serves a political purpose: stoking fear and scapegoating immigrants to rally his base. By labelling immigrants as criminals and casting the southern border as an “invasion”, Trump taps into nativist sentiments while sidelining any serious conversation about comprehensive immigration reform.
Even more extreme, Trump repeated his long-standing goal of ending birthright citizenship, a constitutional guarantee under the 14th Amendment that grants citizenship to anyone born on U.S. soil, regardless of their parents’ immigration status. “We will finally stop the practice of automatic citizenship for the children of illegal aliens”, he announced, framing it as an affront to American sovereignty. This proposal has been widely criticised as both unconstitutional and unworkable, with legal experts warning that any attempt to unilaterally alter the 14th Amendment would face immediate legal challenges.
— Donald Trump wants to deport “millions and millions” of immigrants.
The World Rejoices — But Not in a Good Way
America’s adversaries will undoubtedly welcome Trump’s return to power and his embrace of a strongman persona. Authoritarian regimes in Russia, China, and beyond thrive when democratic institutions are weakened, and global norms are abandoned.
For Vladimir Putin, Trump’s rhetoric about territorial expansion and disdain for NATO is a gift. By normalising the idea of reclaiming land, Trump implicitly justifies Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and its threats against other Eastern European nations. Meanwhile, Xi Jinping is likely celebrating Trump’s abandonment of climate policies, which cedes leadership on green energy to China.
Amid the bombastic rhetoric of “making America great again” Trump’s most eyebrow-raising promise was his commitment to territorial expansion. He suggested renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America” and lamented the United States’ historic “loss” of the Panama Canal, vowing to “take it back.” While Trump stopped short of naming specific territorial ambitions, the invocation of manifest destiny — alongside repeated references to growing America’s territory, saying that the United States “will once again consider itself a growing nation, one that increases our wealth, expands our territory, builds our cities, raises our expectations, and carries our flag into new and beautiful horizons” — has set alarm bells ringing.
Such language invites speculation about Trump’s intent. Is he eyeing Greenland, a territory he famously sought to purchase during his first term? Does he mean annexing parts of Mexico or even looking northward to Canada? Whatever the specifics, the mere suggestion of expansion is likely to provoke widespread unease among neighbours and allies. Canada and Mexico, America’s two largest trading partners, could see this as a direct threat to their sovereignty.
Even smaller authoritarian regimes, such as the one in Venezuela, may see Trump’s rhetoric as a green light to pursue their own oppressive agendas. When the leader of the free world openly admires strongmen and normalises authoritarianism, it creates a ripple effect that weakens democracy everywhere.
A Dictator in All But Name?
Donald Trump’s second inaugural speech was not just a celebration of his return to power — it was a declaration of intent to remake America in his own image. From delusional claims about his divine mission to his admiration for authoritarian leaders, Trump is positioning himself as a strongman who answers to no one — not Congress, not the courts, and certainly not the facts.
As his cult of personality grows stronger and his rhetoric becomes more detached from reality, the risks to America’s democracy — and the world — have never been higher. Trump’s vision is not one of unity or progress but one of division, repression, and unchecked power. Whether he can fully realise this vision remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the Trump presidency is no longer just about governance — it’s about the man, his mythology, and his unrelenting quest for dominance.
XTRA | Donald Trump Inauguration -- Transcript of the full speech
“Thank you. Thank you very much, everybody. Well, thank you very, very much. Vice President Vance, Speaker Johnson, Senator Thune, Chief Justice Roberts, justices of the United States Supreme Court, President Clinton, President Bush, President Obama, President Biden, Vice President Harris, and my fellow citizens.”
“The Golden Age of America begins right now. From this day forward, our country will flourish and be respected again all over the world. We will be the envy of every nation, and we will not allow ourselves to be taken advantage of any longer. During every single day of the Trump administration, I will very simply put America first. Our sovereignty will be reclaimed. Our safety will be restored. The scales of justice will be rebalanced. The vicious, violent and unfair weaponization of the Justice Department and our government will end. And our top priority will be to create a nation that is proud, prosperous and free. America will soon be greater, stronger, and far more exceptional than ever before. I return to the presidency confident and optimistic that we are at the start of a thrilling new era of national success, a tide of change is sweeping the country, sunlight is pouring over the entire world, and America has the chance to seize this opportunity like never before. But first, we must be honest about the challenges we face. While they are plentiful, they will be annihilated by this great momentum that the world is now witnessing in the United States of America.”
“As we gather today, our government confronts a crisis of trust. For many years, a radical and corrupt establishment has extracted power and wealth from our citizens, while the pillars of our society lay broken and seemingly in complete disrepair. We now have a government that cannot manage even a simple crisis at home, while at the same time stumbling into a continuing catalog of catastrophic events abroad. It fails to protect our magnificent, law-abiding American citizens, but provide sanctuary and protection for dangerous criminals, many from prisons and mental institutions that have illegally entered our country from all over the world. We have a government that has given unlimited funding to the defence of foreign borders, but refuses to defend American borders or more importantly, its own people. Our country can no longer deliver basic services in times of emergency, as recently shown by the wonderful people of North Carolina, been treated so badly. And other states who are still suffering from a hurricane that took place many months ago. Or more recently in Los Angeles, where we are watching fires still tragically burn from weeks ago without even a token of defence. They’re raging through the houses and communities, even affecting some of the wealthiest and most powerful individuals in our country, some of whom are sitting here right now. They don’t have a home any longer. That’s interesting, but we can’t let this happen. Everyone is unable to do anything about it. That’s going to change. We have a public health system that does not deliver in times of disaster, yet more money is spent on it than any country anywhere in the world. And we have an education system that teaches our children to be ashamed of themselves, in many cases to hate our country despite the love that we try so desperately to provide to them. All of this will change starting today, and it will change very quickly.”
“My recent election has a mandate to completely and totally reverse a horrible betrayal, and all of these many betrayals that have taken place, and to give the people back their faith, their wealth, their democracy, and indeed, their freedom. From this moment on, America’s decline is over. Our liberties and our nation’s glorious destiny will no longer be denied, and we will immediately restore the integrity, competency, and loyalty of America’s government. Over the past eight years, I have been tested and challenged more than any president in our 250 year history, and I’ve learned a lot along the way the journey to reclaim our republic has not been an easy one that I can tell you. Those who wish to stop our cause have tried to take my freedom, and indeed to take my life. Just a few months ago, in a beautiful Pennsylvania field, an assassin’s bullet ripped through my ear. But I felt then and believe even more so now, that my life was saved for a reason. I was saved by God to make America great again. Thank you. Thank you very much. That is why each day under our administration of American patriots, we will be working to meet every crisis with dignity and power and strength. We will move with purpose and speed to bring back hope, prosperity, safety, and peace for citizens of every race, religion, colour and creed. For American citizens, January 20th, 2025 is Liberation Day.”
“It is my hope that our recent presidential election will be remembered as the greatest and most consequential election in the history of our country. As our victory showed, the entire nation is rapidly unifying behind our agenda with dramatic increases in support from virtually every element of our society, young and old, men and women, African Americans, Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans, urban, suburban, rural and very importantly, we had a powerful win in all seven swing states, and the popular vote we won by millions of people. To the black and Hispanic communities, I want to thank you for the tremendous outpouring of love and trust that you have shown me with your vote. We set records and I will not forget it. I’ve heard your voices in the campaign, and I look forward to working with you in the years to come. Today is Martin Luther King Day and his honour, this will be a great honour, but in his honour, we will strive together to make his dream a reality. We will make his dream come true. Thank you. Thank you. National unity is now returning to America and confidence and pride is soaring like never before. In everything we do. My administration will be inspired by a strong pursuit of excellence and unrelenting success. We will not forget our country. We will not forget our Constitution and we will not forget our God. Can’t do that.”
“Today, I will sign a series of historic executive orders. With these actions, we will begin the complete restoration of America and the revolution of common sense. It’s all about common sense. First, I will declare a national emergency at our southern border. All illegal entry will immediately be halted and we will begin the process of returning millions and millions of criminal aliens back to the places from which they came. We will reinstate my remain in Mexico policy. I will end the practice of catch and release. And I will send troops to the southern border to repel the disastrous invasion of our country. Under the orders I signed today, we will also be designating the cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. And by invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. I will direct our government to use the full and immense power of federal and state law enforcement to eliminate the presence of all foreign gangs and criminal networks bringing devastating crime to U.S. soil, including our cities and inner cities. As Commander in Chief, I have no higher responsibility than to defend our country from threats and invasions and that is exactly what I am going to do. We will do it at a level that nobody has ever seen before.”
“Next, I will direct all members of my cabinet to marshal the vast powers at their disposal to defeat what was record inflation and rapidly bring down costs and prices. The inflation crisis was caused by massive overspending and escalating energy prices and that is why today I will also declare a national energy emergency. We will drill, baby, drill. America will be a manufacturing nation once again, and we have something that no other manufacturing nation will ever have, the largest amount of oil and gas of any country on Earth and we are going to use it, and they use it. We will bring prices down, fill our strategic reserves up again, right to the top and export American energy all over the world. We will be a rich nation again and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it.”
“With my actions today, we will end the Green New Deal and we will revoke the electric vehicle mandate, saving our auto industry and keeping my sacred pledge to our great American autoworkers. In other words, you’ll be able to buy the car of your choice. We will build automobiles in America again at a rate that nobody could have dreamt possible just a few years ago and thank you to the autoworkers of our nation for your inspiring vote of confidence. We did tremendously with their vote. I will immediately begin the overhaul of our trade system to protect American workers and families. Instead of taxing our citizens to enrich other countries, we will tariff and tax foreign countries to enrich our citizens. For this purpose, we are establishing the External Revenue Service to collect all tariffs, duties and revenues. It will be massive amounts of money pouring into our treasury coming from foreign sources. The American Dream will soon be back and thriving like never before. To restore confidence and effectively is to our federal government, my administration will establish the brand new Department of Government Efficiency.”
“After years and years of illegal and unconstitutional federal efforts to restrict free expression, I will also sign an executive order to immediately stop all government censorship and bring back free speech to America. Never again will the immense power of the state be weaponized to persecute political opponents. Something I know, something about. We will not allow that to happen. It will not happen again. Under my leadership, we will restore a fair, equal, and impartial justice under the constitutional rule of law and we are going to bring law and order back to our cities. This week I will also end the government policy of trying to socially engineer race and gender into every aspect of public and private life. We will forge a society that is colourblind and merit based. As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female.”
“This week, I will reinstate any service members who were unjustly expelled from our military for objecting to the COVID vaccine mandate, with full back pay. And I will sign an order to stop our warriors from being subjected to radical political theories and social experiments while on duty. It’s going to end immediately. Our armed forces will be free to focus on their sole mission: defeating America’s enemies. Like in 2017, we will again build the strongest military the world has ever seen. We will measure our success not only by the battles we win, but also by the wars that we end, and perhaps most importantly, the wars we never get into. My proudest legacy will be that of a peacemaker and unifier, that’s what I want to be, a peacemaker and a unifier. I’m pleased to say that as of yesterday, one day before I assumed office, the hostages in the Middle East are coming back home to their families. Thank you. America will reclaim its rightful place as the greatest, most powerful, most respected nation on Earth, inspiring the all and admiration of the entire world.”
“A short time from now, we are going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and we will restore the name of a great president, William McKinley to Mount McKinley, where it should be and where it belongs. President McKinley made our country very rich through tariffs and through talent. He was a natural businessman and gave Teddy Roosevelt the money for many of the great things he did, including the Panama Canal, which has foolishly been given to the country of Panama after the United States, the United States, I mean, think of this spent more money than ever spent on a project before and lost 38,000 lives in the building of the Panama Canal. We have been treated very badly from this foolish gift that should have never been made and Panama’s promise to us has been broken. The purpose of our deal and the spirit of our treaty has been totally violated. American ships are being severely overcharge, charged and not treated fairly in any way, shape or form. And that includes the United States Navy and above all, China is operating the Panama Canal and we didn’t give it to China, we gave it to Panama and we’re taking it back.”
“Above all, my message to Americans today is that it is time for us to once again act with courage, vigor, and vitality of history’s greatest civilization. So as we liberate our nation, we will lead it to new heights of victory and success. We will not be deterred. Together, we will end the chronic disease epidemic and keep our children safe, healthy, and disease free. The United States will once again consider itself a growing nation, one that increases our wealth, expands our territory, builds our cities, raises our expectations, and carries our flag into new and beautiful horizons. And we will pursue our manifest destiny into the stars launching American astronauts to plant the stars and stripes on the planet Mars.”
“Ambition is the lifeblood of a great nation and right now, our nation is more ambitious than any other. There’s no nation like our nation. Americans are explorers, builders, innovators, entrepreneurs and pioneers. The spirit of the frontier is written into our hearts. The call of the next great adventure resounds from within our souls. Our American ancestors turned a small group of colonies on the edge of a vast continent into a mighty republic of the most extraordinary citizens on Earth. No one comes close. Americans pushed thousands of miles through a rugged land of untamed wilderness. They crossed deserts, scaled mountains, braved untold dangers, won the Wild West, ended slavery, rescued millions from tyranny, lifted billions from poverty, harnessed electricity, split the atom, launched mankind into the heavens and put the universe of human knowledge into the palm of the human hand. If we work together, there is nothing we cannot do and no dream we cannot achieve. Many people thought it was impossible for me to stage such a historic political comeback. But as you see today, here I am, the American people have spoken. I stand before you now is proof that you should never believe that something is impossible to do. In America, the impossible is what we do best. From New York to Los Angeles, from Philadelphia to Phoenix, from Chicago to Miami, from Houston to right here in Washington, DC, our country was forged and built by the generations of patriots who gave everything they had for our rights and for our freedom. They were farmers and soldiers, cowboys and factory workers, steel workers and coal miners, police officers and pioneers who pushed onward, marched forward, and let no obstacle defeat their spirit or their pride. Together they laid down the railroads, raised up the skyscrapers, built great highways, won two world wars, defeated fascism and communism, and triumphed over every single challenge that they faced. After all we have been through together, we stand on the verge of the four greatest years in American history. With your help, we will restore America’s promise and we will rebuild the nation that we love and we love it so much.”
“We are one people, one family, and one glorious nation under God. So to every parent who dreams for their child and every . Will America will be respected again and admired againchild who dreams for their future, I am with you. I will fight for you and I will win for you. We are going to win like never before. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. In recent years, our nation has suffered greatly. ut we are going to bring it back and make it great again, greater than ever before. We will be a nation like no other, full of compassion, courage and exceptionalism. Our power will stop all wars and bring a new spirit of unity to a world that has been angry, violent and totally unpredictable. America will be respected again and admired again, including by people of religion, faith, and goodwill. We will be prosperous. We will be proud. We will be strong and we will win like never before. We will not be conquered. We will not be intimidated. We will not be broken and we will not fail. From this day on, the United States of America will be a free, sovereign and independent nation. We will stand bravely. We will live proudly. We will dream boldly, and nothing will stand in our way because we are Americans. The future is ours and our golden age has just begun. Thank you. God bless America. Thank you all.”
GOING FURTHER
‘I am the Chosen One,’ Trump proclaims as he defends trade war with China | CNBC
Why Donald Trump can’t stop praising Vladimir Putin | CNN
US President Trump says he called Xi Jinping the ‘king’ of China | CNN
Trump says he wants "my people" to sit at attention for him like people do for Kim Jong Un | CBS News
How millions of US children would be hurt by Trump’s mass deportation plan: ‘Deep harm is intentional’ | The Guardian
Trump says he’ll use a 1798 law to crack down on cartels. He could face an uphill battle in court | CNN
Trump to make historic move toward revoking birthright citizenship | NPR
[Read our Comments Guidelines]