The ideal subject of totalitarian rule is not the convinced Nazi or the convinced Communist, but people for whom the distinction between fact and fiction (i.e., the reality of experience) and the distinction between true and false (i.e., the standards of thought) no longer exist”Hanna Arendt, 'The Origins of Totalitarianism'
Donald Trump connects emotionally with a vital part of Americans because he seems authentic, real to them. He looks like what they are. If you ask them, many believe that because he is a businessman, he tells the truth, and not like the politicians, who always tell lies. He says what he thinks. ‘He’s honest,' they say. And Trump shouts at his rallies, "Look at those lying, corrupt politicians. I'm not like them. I'm not a politician, and you know it.”
And it is on this direct attack on politics and on the death of truth that he has built his populist legacy, which comes down to this: "tell them what they want to hear and then do what is best for you and your business". That is the unscrupulous, individualistic business ethic shared by so many of his compatriots. The United States is not a nation, it is a business, they think. They agree with Trump on that.
Thus, his presidency has been based not on governing, i.e., seeking the best possible and lasting solutions for the greatest number of people, but on closing deals. It's a zero-sum game: we win, they lose. His favorite picture has been the one in which he proudly shows a contract (usually a decree) with his endless signature stamped on it, surrounded by the smiling and satisfied beneficiaries of the business, mainly lobbyists of all stripes, who thrive by flattering the president.
