After igniting turmoil in global financial markets, Donald Trump retreated to a golf course in Florida. Just a week later, while justifying his decision to alleviate trade tariffs, the US president entertained racing car champions at the White House.
During the interim, Trump engaged in golfing and dining with his donors, casually stating, “this is a great time to get rich,” even while the US economy was in decline.
This stark contrast led to comparisons with Emperor Nero, who played music while Rome burned, and other detached rulers. It also illustrated Trump’s erratic governance style during his tumultuous second term: unpredictable, largely ignoring convention, and often transitioning rapidly between public events, flanked by sycophants.
“He’s certainly embodying the caricature of a mad king,” remarked Kurt Bardella, a Democratic strategist. “When you’re in a tuxedo addressing an audience, advocating for tough measures, or vacationing while the economy falters, it shows a disconnect at best.
“At worst, it reveals a self-centered narcissist who is indifferent to the suffering around him. Ultimately, such behavior will come with a political cost.”
On April 2, Trump declared his self-proclaimed “liberation day,” unveiling significant tariffs on numerous countries against a backdrop of massive US flags in the White House Rose Garden, employing a thoroughly debunked method to destabilize the long-standing global trade framework.
According to the Washington Post, Trump finalized this plan less than three hours prior to his grand announcement, receiving unyielding support from Vice-President JD Vance and other advisors. A source from his circle stated: “He’s reached a point of utter disregard. Negative press? Unconcerned. He will implement what he promised during his campaign.”
The day following, after markets endured trillions in losses, Trump boarded Air Force One, heading to Miami, where he arrived at his Doral resort for a Saudi-sponsored LIV Golf tournament, riding in a cart driven by his son, Eric Trump.
Waking up at Mar-a-Lago, his luxurious club in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump donned a red “Make America Great Again” cap and a white polo shirt. His limousine cruised through a palm tree-lined street filled with cheering supporters as he reached his golf club.
He spent the morning defending his actions on his Truth Social platform, vowing to remain steadfast: “TO THE MANY INVESTORS POURING INTO THE UNITED STATES AND INVESTING TREMENDOUS SUMS, MY POLICIES WILL NOT CHANGE,” he declared.
Throughout this period, Trump remained in Florida while a solemn transfer of four US soldiers killed in a training exercise in Lithuania occurred. Instead of attending the event, he dispatched Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to represent him at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. Meanwhile, he graced a candlelit dinner for Maga Inc., a political ally, reportedly charging $1 million per plate.
Maggie Haberman, a Trump biographer and reporter for the New York Times, noted on UJ: “He has long ceased to care about appearances, making it clear that he’ll act as he chooses during this presidency … His messaging fails to reflect an understanding of the struggles faced by average people right now.”
On Saturday, Trump played at another family-owned golf course in Jupiter, Florida, prompting an official White House announcement: “The president won the second round of the senior club championship today in Jupiter, Fla., advancing to the championship round on Sunday.”
When Sunday arrived, Trump continued to play while cabinet members rushed to political TV segments, sending out mixed messages. Some insisted his tariffs were immutable, while others indicated potential for negotiations.
Upon returning to Washington, Trump faced rising dissent from allies, industry leaders, and even loyal Republicans urging him to adjust his course before a looming recession slipped into a depression. Nevertheless, his first public event was a celebration for the World Series champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he received a “Trump 47” baseball shirt.
On Tuesday, dressed in a bow tie and tuxedo, Trump addressed a fundraising dinner in Washington, proclaiming: “I know what I’m doing.” He asserted that the tariffs were compelling world leaders to negotiate with him, boasting: “These countries are calling, eager to make a deal.”
However, the next day, Trump backtracked. He took to Truth Social to announce that while he would escalate tariffs on China, he would pause others for 90 days to create room for negotiation. His bubble of wealth and influence had finally been punctured.
Trump has repeatedly shown himself resistant to scandals or blunders that would undermine other politicians. Yet, his nonchalant attitude amidst market turmoil revealed a man profoundly disconnected from the concerns of everyday citizens, including his own supporters.
Larry Sabato, the director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, commented: “Let them eat cake: the Marie Antoinette analogy fits. He even won his own golf tournament at his personal club. Quite the feat! Bill Clinton too frequently won at golf because he was president, as is often the case. It’s simply how it is. The rules don’t seem to apply.”
This isn’t the first instance where critics have likened Trump, known for demanding unwavering loyalty from advisors and retaliating against foes, to a monarch.
In a recent talk at Politics and Prose bookshop in Washington, Maureen Dowd, a columnist for the New York Times and author of *Notorious*, compared the president to Shakespeare’s Richard III.
“Richard III steps forward and engages the audience in his impending misdeeds,” Dowd explained to the Guardian during a Q&A session. “He draws them in and employs humor to soften the blow of his villainy.
“Trump exhibits a similar pattern … His eccentricity distracts you, so when he enacts authoritarian measures, you find yourself questioning: is he truly doing what I think he’s doing?”
