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Trump: A Victim on America's Behalf - Ruth Ben-Ghiat - America at a Crossroads
"They're coming after me, but they're really coming after you." Historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat joins Patt Morrison to break down the psychological mechanics behind this defining political message.
Why do millions of people form an unshakeable emotional bond with populist leaders? In this standalone deep dive, autocracy expert Ruth Ben-Ghiat reveals a core strategy from the historic authoritarian playbook: weaponizing victimhood. From Benito Mussolini framing himself as a target of corrupt establishments to early Nazi propaganda painting a banned Adolf Hitler as a "censored" truth-teller, autocrats have long claimed to absorb the suffering of the nation.
By erasing the boundary between the public state and private self, these leaders position themselves not merely as politicians, but as secular martyrs and saviors who are "standing in the way" of a dangerous enemy on behalf of their followers. Discover how this powerful victimhood discourse hijacks cultural definitions of grievance, builds fanatical loyalty, and makes mass emotional bonding nearly impossible to break.
📘 Guest: Ruth Ben-Ghiat - Historian specializing in authoritarianism and propaganda, Author of "Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present"
🎙️ Host: Patt Morrison - Award-winning Journalist, LA Times Columnist, Author and Radio Personality
📅 Recorded May 2026