Top Author Compares Trump To Roman Emperor

Donald Trump is governing like a Roman emperor, according to an esteemed political novelist.

Robert Harris said the US president’s “egomania” and aversion to following rules make him comparable to disruptive leaders like Augustus, who set up an imperial cult across the Roman Empire.

He even mocked the Republican by envisioning him in the traditional attire of ancient Rome.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Harris said: “Unlike almost any other American president, you can really see him [Trump] in a toga with a gold laurel wreath on his head.

“When Trump had a gladiator cage fight on the lawn of the White House, I thought the parallels are getting ridiculous.

“The talk of triumphal arches, putting his name on every building, the steam-rolling of all opposition, the egomania, the disregard for the rules.

“He is an imperial kind of president.

“Yes, you can see in the way he has undermined the American constitution and the Republic echoes of the way of which Augustus did it destroyed the Roman republic and replaced it with an imperial system.”

Harris also claimed the quality of British politicians has “declined” compared to those who governed in the wake of World War 2, taking particular aim at the prime minister.

“They were bigger figures, it seemed to me, than the current crop,” the author said. “Almost inevitably, I suppose, but you can’t really compare someone like Andy Burnham with [ex-Labour chancellor Denis] Healey or [ex-Tory defence secretary Peter] Carington.

“What has he done? He read English at Cambridge, became a special adviser and went up through the Labour Party.

“His experience of life is so much more limited than politicians 50, 60, years ago.”

Harris also predicted Reform UK leader Nigel Farage would never make it into No.10, despite the party’s strong performance in the polls since 2024.

He claimed: “Paradoxically, they’re probably more likely to succeed if he steps aside because I think he now has become such a live figure.”

“He’s a brilliant attack dog and he worms away at people, riles them up and gets them fed up about the state of the country,” Harris said.

“But that’s the easy part. Then it comes to, what are you going to do about it?”

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