Plato warned us about Trump: An Essay
About 2,300 years ago, the Greek philosopher Plato wrote the Dialogues, among which was The Republic. There, in Book IX, Plato warns us of the “tyrant,” and his depiction eerily resembles Donald Trump.
Plato says that the tyrant: (1) arises out of the democratic republic; (2) has difficulty sleeping; (3) does not shrink from bloodshed; (4) is prone to flying into a rage; (5) and is “mad and somewhat deranged in mind, fancy[ing] that he can rule not men only but gods also.” In short, Plato described what we would later call a narcissist prone to starting wars, a narcissist who believes that he is above the law and that anyone who disagrees with him deserves the scorn. That’s our president.
What else does Plato say about the tyrant that reminds us of Trump? “He is led into complete lawlessness, which those leading him call complete liberty.” MAGA anyone?
He is “prone to festivities and pretty girls and all the rest of it.” The Epstein Files anyone?
And his followers “run wild and hunt for someone to rob.” ICE and Border Patrol, anyone? Indeed, do they not seem only too happy to rob people of their liberty and lives, even US citizens they are supposed to protect?
According to Plato, the tyrant is prone to stealing. Trump University, anyone?
His followers “strip travelers … they kidnap … bear false witness and take bribes.” Does that remind you of any people placed in high authority by Trump?
The tyrant has a “passion [for ruling] lives in,” and considers himself “sole sovereign alone, with no law or government to restrain [him].” And surrounding the tyrant are “flatters who are ready to do anything for [him].”
I could go on ad infinitum, but I’ll close with this Platonic observation. The longer that the tyrant has power, the more tyrannical he becomes. So let the 2026 election lead the United States to reasonable limitations on Trump’s power. Be strong, and let us strengthen each other. Vote!
[All material is from Great Dialogues of Plato, Signet Classics, Trans. W.H.D. Rouse.]