CNN presidential historian Timothy Naftali suggested that based on his actions on Inauguration Day, President Trump succeeded in becoming a “dictator from day one.”
Naftali was reacting to the news that the president will sign a record number of more than 200 executive orders on his first day in office.
“From day one, he decided he was going to fulfill his promise to be a dictator,” Naftali said, referring to comments President Trump made with Fox News' Sean Hannity during a 2023 town hall.
“I'm not a dictator except for the first day,” Trump joked, adding, “I'm closing the borders and drilling, drilling, drilling. After that, I'm not a dictator.” .
CNN historian Timothy Naftali commented on President Trump's remarks after Monday's inauguration. (Screenshot from CNN)
Influencers praise President Trump for declaring that the United States recognizes “only two genders”: “Truth will prevail!”
Naftali added how President Trump has invited several international leaders, including Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Argentine President Javier Millei, whom Naftali describes as “far-right” leaders. criticized that.
He also attacked Trump's past calls for acquiring Greenland and regaining control of the Panama Canal, suggesting this was a capitulation to the “far right.”
“In a sense, we had far-right international figures represented at the inauguration,” Naftali said. “And for the first time since 1901, an American president spoke in his inaugural address about how this country is acquiring new territory and threatening the sovereignty of other nations.
“This is a signal to the global far-right that America, like other far-right countries, is playing a game of “what we want, we take.''
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Argentine President Javier Millei share a joke as they arrive to attend the inauguration of President Donald Trump in the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, U.S., January 20, 2025. (Evelyn Hochstein/Reuters)
He added, “This means that for the first time since World War II, our country is no longer an indispensable nation.If we continue with the rhetoric with which we were founded, we will become an imperialist nation.'' said.
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In his inaugural address, President Trump said that America's “sovereignty will be restored, our security will be restored, and the scales of justice will be rebalanced. The vicious, violent, and unjust weaponization of the Department of Justice and the government will end.” And our first priority is to build a proud, prosperous and free nation.”
President Trump proposed purchasing Greenland before taking office. (Evan Vucci/Associated Press)
Naftali added: “The type of rhetoric that the president used in his inaugural address is the type of rhetoric that is associated with great imperial power.”
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