Dark truth underpins 'clownish' Trump's 'circus of death and chaos': column

A Guardian columnist on Monday warned that behind President Donald Trump's portrayal as a "comic figure" hides a much darker reality.

Nesrine Malik explained that although some commentators have argued that Trump's "clownishness or lack of ideology" has made him less dangerous than previous authoritarian leaders, that's not the case.

"Over the past few weeks, a random kaleidoscope of images has been flashing through my head," Malik wrote. "Some are characters from movies not seen since childhood. Others are snippets from literature or iconic art. What joins them all is an exaggerated, almost kitschy evil."

Although Trump has openly denied he is a fascist, his behavior and actions — from the ongoing war in Iran, his harsh immigration policies and sharing a bizarre AI image of himself as Jesus — have all played a role in "Trump's absurdity."

"What is so bewildering about the cruelty is how it has been allowed to pass, its casualness," Malik wrote. "Donald Trump hovers above the circus of death and chaos. (Billy, the clown-faced puppet in Saw, pops up rasping, 'I want to play a game'.) Trump defies attempts to make his actions cohere with any particular strategy. His wars, killing of innocents, and indeed, the threatening of entire civilisations are reshaping the world, but without him even having orchestrated some master plan. He is animated by little more than momentary impulses and resentments."

Under Trump, ICE has separated families and detained immigrants — something he has applauded in public statements.

"There is no cajoling or humouring of this sort of jubilant wickedness that will make Trump spare his quaking allies," Malik added. "No minimising of it as nothing ideological or without a strategic purpose, and therefore ultimately manageable. The unbridled cruelty and violence that he is unleashing and enabling domestically and abroad draws on all its precedents, and can only be fiercely fought – and with urgency – or it will consume all."