Opinion | The Terrible Man Theory of History
Gift Links
Shared By
"When I was in college I learned about the great man theory of history. I didn’t quite buy it. And now, thanks to President Trump, I’d like to modify my objections." www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o...
www.nytimes.com/2026...
“It’s not unusual for a politician to end an interview performatively. It is unusual for him (or her) to do it while spreading wild conspiracies with his face red with rage…” The Terrible Man Theory of History www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o...
The Terrible Man Theory of History Republicans now defend and even cheer conduct they once found abhorrent. Trump’s own corruption has corrupted virtually the entire party. NYTimes share: www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o...
@nytimes.com, I know that it's easy to blame Nazism on "Prussian militarism," but Hitler was an Austrian; his movement was based in Bavaria, which was a hotbed of political radicalism during Weimar; and post-WW1 Prussia was bulwark of democracy until 1932. www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o...
The fact that we’re so accustomed to Trump’s behavior that even egregious misconduct barely raises an eyebrow helps demonstrate that Trump isn’t just reshaping American policy; in many ways he’s reshaping the American people. (@davidfrenchjag.bsky.social NYT-unlocked) www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o...
www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o... “I can understand, for example, why Democrats in Maine roll their eyes at attacks on Graham Platner..Why should only one party have standards for its politicians?”
“[that] we’re so accustomed to Trump’s behavior that even egregious misconduct barely raises an eyebrow helps demonstrate that Trump isn’t just reshaping American policy; in many ways he’s reshaping the American people”
> The great man changes the direction of history. ("great" here meaning impactful; certainly not _good_.) The Terrible Man Theory of History (www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o...) via @davidfrenchjag.bsky.social
The Terrible Man Theory of History www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o...
Let’s not all become Trumpians. —The Terrible Man Theory of History www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o...
I think about this a lot. Has Trumpism fundamentally changed our culture and our tolerance for what was once completely unacceptable? Can we ever go back to decorum? Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o...
The Terrible Man Theory of History www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o...
The Terrible Man Theory of History The solution to Trumpism isn’t to conform to the spirit of the age, but to transform it, and the great man theory of history tells us that we could be one good leader away from turning the page on this miserable age. www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o...
The Terrible Man Theory of History www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o...
"The fact that we’re so accustomed to Trump’s behavior that even egregious misconduct barely raises an eyebrow helps demonstrate that Trump isn’t just reshaping American policy; in many ways he’s reshaping the American people." www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o...
The Terrible Man Theory of History www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o...
"By lowering the bar of acceptable behavior below the floor of normal human decency, he’s made a mockery of the idea that character matters in politics. What value is there in being a virtuous loser?" www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o...
The Terrible Man Theory of History www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o...
Astute opinion piece by David French “Republicans, as we all know, now defend and even cheer conduct they once found abhorrent. Trump’s own corruption has corrupted virtually the entire party, turning it into a magnet for grifters and conspiracy theorists. . . . “ www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o...
www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o...
(Gift Article) "Trump’s influence has spread beyond Trump’s base. By lowering the bar of acceptable behavior below the floor of normal human decency, he’s made a mockery of the idea that character matters in politics. What value is there in being a virtuous loser?"
www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o...
"If you saw a family member behave the way Trump behaved, you’d worry. If a chief executive behaved the same way, a responsible board of directors would convene an emergency meeting." www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o...
www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o...
This, from @davidfrenchjag.bsky.social, is mostly right, but, alas, there is an asymmetry. Destroying norms and institutions is easier than rebuilding them. "As we lament our cultural decline we may forget that leaders can be just as influential toward virtue as they are toward vice."
The Terrible Man Theory of History www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o...
"Trump’s own corruption has corrupted virtually the entire party, turning it into a magnet for grifters and conspiracy theorists. And it’s obvious that Trump has influenced the evangelical church more than the evangelical church has influenced Trump." www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o...
www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o... Excellent opinion piece by @davidfrenchjag.bsky.social
"Trump’s own corruption has corrupted virtually the entire party, turning it into a magnet for grifters and conspiracy theorists." www.nytimes.com/2026/06/11/o...