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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
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Mohamad Bazzi

Trump’s tough-guy image has been undone by his own actions

trump waves outside air force one
‘It’s easy to see why Trump and his administration did not want to publicly share details of the ruse.’ Photograph: Luis M Alvarez/AP

For decades, Donald Trump cultivated a public image based on strength and dominance. He was a brash New York real estate mogul; a reality TV star who deployed his signature phrase: “You’re fired!” to eliminate contestants from The Apprentice; and eventually US president and undisputed leader of the Republican party.

In recent months, Trump has taken his boastfulness to an extreme, reportedly telling confidants that he’s “the most powerful person to ever live” and comparing himself with some of history’s most feared leaders, including Genghis Khan, Napoleon, Hitler, Stalin and Mao.

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