In a revealing interview on Late Night with Seth Meyers, journalist Maureen Dowd has given many interesting insights into how President-elect Donald Trump thinks. The New York Times journalist, Dowd, first met him in the 1980’s and had quite a bit to say about him.
Surprise Surprise, Trump favors those who feed his ego. According to Dowd, the reason Trump loves Russian President Putin so much is all based on a big misunderstanding. Trump believed Putin had called him “brilliant.” However, Dowd says this comment from Putin actually turned out to be a mistranslation and that he had really said and meant Trump was “colorful and gaudy.”
Dowd’s take on this is that Trump’s entire fondness for Russia is based on this one mistaken compliment. Trump has, as a result of this translation error, convinced fellow Republicans to change their stance on Russia.
Another story Dowd told was about Trump meeting Mikhail Gorbachev. Gorbachev complimented Trump on one of his constructions and asked him to come and build one in Russia. From then on, it was love.
How sad that the only reason Trump decided he liked Gorbachev was simply based on flattery and not on what he achieved for Russia. Trump (of course) only liked him because he praised his building. It had nothing to do with his political significance, introducing democracy, or ending the very real nuclear threats of the Cold War by agreeing to disarm. No, it was because he liked Trump’s building, that’s why he was great. Oh, Brother!
In the interview, Dowd also astutely observes that Trump:
“..over-flatters other people and likes to be over-flattered… because basically, his ideology is his ego.”
His narcissism has been noted many times. Evidence can also be seen in his over reaction to Alec Baldwin’s Saturday Night Live sketches of him. His Twitter reactions alone, show how insecure and self-absorbed he is.
Trump is currently rewarding those who have flattered him, and shown loyalty, with positions of incredible responsibility. On the flip side, he also seems to be on a revenge mission at the moment.
He obviously teased Mitt Romney with the carrot of the Secretary of State position. Trump knew full well that he would not give Romney anything for the way he spoke about him during his campaign, but he still humiliated him by inviting him to Trump Tower for dinner.
Dowd’s account of Trump pretty much says flattery will get you everywhere, which is disturbing considering he is about to be leader of the free world.
Watch Maureen Dowd speak about Trump.
Featured image is a screen shot from YouTube.
