Here we imagine the behind-the-scenes action where capos bring requests before the Don.
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Donald Trump is the Mafia Don of his own crime family. Getting things done often requires his approval. This process has resulted in some of the most horrific actions ever undertaken by a president of the United States.
Trump’s presidency has transformed the United States into a “mafia state,” with little difference between his actions and those of a crime boss. Trump uses intimidation and coercion in both domestic and foreign policy, such as threats veiled as “offers” to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, attempts to strong-arm Denmark over Greenland, and his facts-free, public humiliation of South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa.
This “pure mafia” style is further evidenced by Trump’s perceived obsession with “respect,” his contemptuous treatment of subordinates, and his arbitrary exercise of power through tariffs and executive orders. This approach fosters a pervasive climate of fear, leading to self-censorship among critics in the judiciary, media, academia, and business sectors, who worry about online attacks, political prosecutions, and potential physical harm to themselves and their families.
The transformation of the United States into a mafia state has significant implications for global politics.
Long-standing allies like the UK must rethink their options, including such radical shifts as full-on rearmament or rapprochement with the European Union. The underlying message is that the world has changed drastically, and maintaining previous alliances or stances in the face of such a mafia state is no longer viable.
Why is Trump acting like a mafia boss?
In the following video, Gerard Baker, editor at large of The Wall Street Journal, describes Trump’s mafia-style approach to governing.
While you’re here enjoying DonkeyHotey’s latest cartoon, please take a moment to read these articles on related topics:
- Fresh Off Crypto Grift Party, Trump Is Giving Himself Another Tariff High
- Trump First — Americans Know Their President’s Priorities
- Other DonkeyHotey cartoons
The cartoon above was created by DonkeyHotey for WhoWhatWhy from these images: Donald Trump caricature (DonkeyHotey / Flickr – CC BY 2.0), memorial (NationalMallNPS / Flickr – PDM 1.0), and supplicant (The White House / Flickr _ PD).