“He’s the head of a country and I mean he is the strong head. Don’t let anyone think anything different. He speaks and his people sit up at attention. I want my people to do the same.” Donald Trump

“We fell in love, no really. He wrote me beautiful letters, and they’re great letters. We fell in love.” Donald Trump

“No Kings” rallies and marches have been sweeping our country. We’ve witnessed a series of amazing turnouts, each season showcasing larger and more enthusiastic audiences. Kings often have a benefactor connotation-they care about their followers. In their benevolence, they are sometimes generous, they do good for the sake of their kingdom.

Donald Trump has never demonstrated benevolence. His creed is retribution, loyalty, and self-serving corruption. He is way more similar to North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un who, like Trump, thrives on retribution, ridiculously garish edifices, corruption, and a grip on power tighter than a Pete Hegseth suit.

Trump, like Kim, was born with a silver spoon in his mouth. Both were raised by coddling fathers, Trump in the womb of New York real estate, Kim in the universe of the insular Communist Party in North Korea. Both led sheltered lives, far from real life and anything having to so with accountability.

Whether we consider their backgrounds, their unambiguous predilection for symbols of opulence, the obsequious behavior they demand from others, or their prodigious levels of narcism, Kim and Trump share characteristics common of authoritarians.

LOYALTY IS REQUIRED

Actually, these two characters, both egomaniacs and tyrants, have much in common, from their upbringing to how they lead and the manner in which they treat people. Both men prize loyalty above all else and thus, surround themselves with fawning lapdogs who have sold their souls. The blatancy and transparency of this culture of sycophancy is so obvious it seems ridiculous. Of course, it is. Fueled by their inability to trust others, both Kim and Trump have an insatiable appetite for revenge.

LAPPING UP LUXURY

In spite of embargoes and wide-spread economic struggles for almost all North Koreans, Kim is well-known for his high-end predilections including luxury vehicles, Swiss-watches, yachts and gourmet foods. He regularly travels in Mercedes-Benz cars, famously sports Patek Philippe watches, and has several yachts priced at $4-6 million each. His sister, Kim Yo-Jong, has been photographed carrying a Lady Dior handbag valued at $7,000.

Trump is infamous for having gilded the White House in gold. He has installed gold-trimmed ceiling molding, ornate Rococo mirrors, gold cherubim above doorways, gold trim on the fireplace, even golden coasters. Reportedly, in spite of his mantra, Make America Great Again, most of the gold doesn’t even originate from the United States.

In spite of the blatant hypocrisy, both leaders, Trump and Kim, seem to frolic in their crude materialism so reminiscent of Queen Marie-Antoinette. “Let them eat cake,” she allegedly declared, symbolizing extreme aristocratic detachment from the poor.

“Clasping hands and appearing to share jokes as reporters shouted questions, Trump described Kim as a ‘great leader’ and said his country had ‘tremendous economic potential, unbelievable, unlimited’ as he vowed to ‘help’ North Korea achieve those goals.” (Aljazeera, Feb. 28, 2019)

Authoritarians often share common characteristics. Most people would, without hesitation, put North Korea’s tempestuous leader, Kim Jong Un, in that category. But recent developments here in the U.S., the shooting deaths of Americans in Minnesota, the entrance of our country into war with Iran without input from Congress or the support of the American citizenry, the abduction of voting information in Georgia, and the list goes on, reframes how we see our own President.

As reported in the London School of Economics, “John Kelly served as Chief of Staff for President Donald Trump, with his two-year tenure making him Trump’s longest-serving chief of staff to-date. During the 2024 election campaign, however, this one-time Trump aid warned voters about reelecting him, calling him ‘certainly an authoritarian.’”

HELL-BENT ON RETRIBUTION

In North Korea, criticism of the Great Leader or violations in the eyes of the state, such as smuggling memory sticks loaded with South Korea TV programming, are severely punished. It’s not just violators who are punished, retribution is exacted on 3-generations of families who are sent to harsh prisons in remote sections of the country.

Trump, similarly, does not tolerate dissent. He continues to go after former FBI Director, James Comey, most recently for posting a photo of seashells arranged to say “8647.” Trump and his Justice Department allege that this photo was a serious threat to Trump’s life. No one really believes this, of course. The agenda here goes back to a private dinner between the two when Trump first came to office. Apparently, Trump asked for Comey’s undivided loyalty. Comey refused. Trump has been exacting his retribution for years.

According to a Reuter’s Special Report, Trump is seeking the retribution of 470 targets and still counting. Each day reveals a new object of his wrath.

SELF-AGGRANDIZING EDIFICES

Just this year, the first ever full-size sculpture of Kim Jong Un was unveiled. This marks a significant shift as popular statuary had been limited to renditions of his father and grandfather. Apparently large mosaics depicting Kim are currently being installed in city centers across the country.

Trump’s need to build edifices in tribute to himself clearly trumps Kim’s to-date. A golden Trump statue appears at the Trump National Doral Golf resort in Miami, Florida. His plans include a giant arch in Washington, the new marble and gold East Wing of the White House, assorted ego-filled projects such as stamps and coins in his likeness, and even golden sneakers.

No, there’s no king-like benevolence, no genuine love of the kingdom to be found here. He’s every bit as ruthless as Kim Jong Un. Trump only has love for himself. He’s far much more dangerous than a king.