Frank Schaper critiques Trump leadership

By Baaz Editorial

Wednesday 04 February, 2026 - 23:00

By Baaz Editorial

Wednesday 04 February, 2026 - 23:00 Read time 1 min 23 sec

As Donald Trump continues his presidency with an unprecedented series of policies and decrees, the third and final part of The Great American Dictator has recently been published. In this 1,500-page trilogy, Dutch leadership expert Frank Schaper dissects the rise, leadership, and cult-like following of Trump.

A president with a plan

In the first months of his second term, Trump has signed more than 140 decrees aimed at immigration, trade, and restructuring federal agencies, among other things. Many of these measures align with the conservative policy plan Project 2025, which aims for a fundamental reform of the American government.

Current policy

Schaper's trilogy provides an in-depth analysis of the historical and ideological influences shaping Trump's current policies. He draws parallels with earlier American presidents such as William McKinley – known for his tough tariffs and the annexation of Hawaii – and Theodore Roosevelt, who combined military power with international peace missions and realized the Panama Canal. Trump openly mirrors himself to these 'strong men' and now sees himself as a mediator in conflicts such as Russia-Ukraine.

Relevance for the Netherlands and Europe

Although the trilogy focuses on the American context, Schaper's insights are also important for European readers. The rise of populist leadership and the erosion of democratic norms are themes that are also playing out in Europe. Schaper's analysis provides tools to understand and interpret these developments.

About the author

Frank Schaper is a leadership expert, speaker, and author of several books on power, group dynamics, and destructive leadership. He previously published The Dictator Virus (2015) and How to Become a Born Leader (2009), in which he reveals the essence of leadership in politics and business. His Trump trilogy began in 2024 with Donald Trump and his 40 role models and was followed that same year by a detailed description of Trump's character development. With this third part, Schaper concludes a unique, in-depth analysis of a leader who stretches democratic rules both domestically and internationally.

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