A lot of people are pointing to either Trump’s narcissism or inconsistencies. If you understand what a Machiavellian is and you understand that Donald Trump is in essence a Machiavellian then you’ll understand everything he does. Even his narcissism.
Machiavellianism is “the employment of cunning and duplicity in statecraft or in general conduct”.[1] The word comes from the Italian Renaissance diplomat and writer Niccolò Machiavelli, born in 1469, who wrote Il Principe (The Prince), among other works.
In modern psychology, Machiavellianism is one of the dark triad personalities, characterized by a duplicitous interpersonal style, a cynical disregard for morality and a focus on self-interest and personal gain.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machiavellianism
For a Machiavellian there is no morality. Morality is something like religion that is used to control the masses. It is a human invention with no basis in reality. Since we are continuously living the results of prior actions a Machiavellian sees that any action to achieves ones goals are justified.
I was at the Architects for a New Paradigm conference in Ashland Oregon where Dr Ruwart, a libertarian, asked the following question. What most describes you out of the three following statements;
1) The end justifies the means
2) The ends cannot justify the means
3) The ends are a reflection of the means we use
When asked to raise your hand if you identify with number 1, there were no hands raised. That is of course because this was a conference full of people who want the best for the world. Had the same question been asked in close doors in Washington the answer would have been the polar opposite with plenty of justification as to why.
The bottom line with Trump is that if you look at his comments concerning the way people conducted themselves on his show the Apprentice you would find that he clearly believes that the means justifies the ends. That is why he has been able to deal with shady groups to achieve his gains in life.
In the US narcissism is celebrated. It is rewarded beyond all things by the people. Kim Kardashian is the classic example. Products don’t matter as much as brands. Trump understood this and he has used narcissism to build his brand and that has led to his success in a land that loves it. He is more of a Machiavellian than he is a narcissist. Wouldn’t surprise me at all if we find out that he isn’t in the least bit a narcissist but rather played the role for advancement.
A man who has had his experience and is a true Machiavellian will ally himself with the perceived winner and not those he is morally aligned with since power comes first. Hence why he is so pro Israel. Bernie Sanders, a man who is identified as a Jew, stated that he believed in the Palestinian peoples right to self determination. Bernie didn’t stand a chance after that in US politics. He is a moral person.
When you listen to Trump talk about history he is focused on power and how it was used by the victors. To think that he would not be power hungry and embark on displays of power is ridiculous. That is his modus operandi.
You can be sure of one thing going forward. He will use and abuse his power. He will ally himself with the strongest. The weak will be squashed. He has allegiance to those who show allegiance to him and he will destroy anyone who opposes him. A Machiavellian will do anything to keep and increase their power. So he will destroy any nation that challenges US hegemony over the world.
Trump’s primary adviser;