New York Times reporter Jonathan Swan stated that critics have repeatedly written off Donald Trump's political career, often inaccurately, and advised such observers to approach the former president with humility.
During a "60 Minutes Australia" interview, Swan, co-author of "Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump," described Trump as having "Napoleonic" ambition and an exceptional capacity for political survival. He suggested that journalists who underestimate Trump's resilience may be operating in a "delusional way."
"I think Donald Trump's obituary has been written so many times — his political obituary — by so many people," Swan said. "And by this point, if you don't have some humility around that, I think, you know, you're operating in a fairly delusional way. This is someone who has incredible survival capacities, who's able to regenerate himself."
Swan also recounted an instance where Trump reportedly showed him a document that compared him to historical figures such as Stalin, Mao, Hitler, Napoleon, Attila the Hun, Genghis Khan, the Caesars, Alexander the Great, and Tamerlane. According to Swan, the document focused on raw power rather than morality, framing Trump as potentially the most powerful man to have ever lived.
"The premise of the document, Swan said, was that Trump is the most powerful leader in history and is willing to use power in a way no previous president has done within their lifetime," the report noted.
Swan further speculated that Trump desires to be a "defining figure of our age," akin to Napoleon, known by a single name. He suggested Trump's historical self-comparison is not with other U.S. presidents but with such world-historical figures.
White House spokeswoman Olivia Wales responded to Swan's comments, stating, "President Trump is fighting every day to deliver the strong, safe, and prosperous country that we all deserve. The only legacy President Trump is concerned with is making America greater than ever before."
Swan also touched upon potential future actions for Trump, including foreign policy shifts, citing Cuba as one possibility for regime change initiatives, though he cautioned against excessive punditry.
Swan's remarks emphasized Trump's consistent ability to overcome political challenges and defy predictions of his decline, highlighting a resilience that has characterized his impact on American politics for over a decade.