It’s easy to identify European historical analogies for Trump, but American analogies are harder to find. You could make a case for George Wallace or a right-wing Huey Long, but the best choice, in my opinion, is Aaron Burr. How do the two stack up?
TRUMP VS. BURR
CONTESTED ELECTION Trump–2016; Burr–1800.
FAMOUS ANCESTOR Trump–Dad; Burr–Jonathan Edwards
MILITARY SERVICE Trump–Bone Spurs; Burr–War Hero
MOTIVATION Trump–Narcissism; Burr–Ambition
TALK ABOUT SHOOTING Trump–Fifth Avenue; Burr–New Jersey
AND THE WINNER IS . . . Trump. Burr is the more attractive figure in a lot of respects, but he didn’t win the presidency, he killed Hamilton, and he intrigued for some sort of an empire in the west. Trump hasn’t done anything that bad–yet.