Trump: Ozymandias revisited?

In 1818, Percy Bysshe Shelley penned the sonnet "Ozymandias" as a commentary on human hubris and impermanence, inspired by the shattered statue of Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses II. The sonnet aptly describes Donald J. Trump, the current United States president, and his imperialistic actions, making it a fitting epithet for his leadership.

Both Ramses II and Trump exhibit unrestrained hubris, unlimited delusion, and a cult of personality, demanding loyalty through fear and conquest. However, unlike Ramses II, Trump's military campaigns have not always achieved their stated aims and have often resulted in costly human lives. While Trump considers himself in the league of some of the most powerful autocrats, including Julius Caesar, Genghis Khan, and Alexander the Great, his ability to commission statues and edifices in his image and name has been limited.

Recent court rulings have begun to limit Trump's unilateral actions, and his recent attempts to annex Greenland, the Strait of Hormuz, Canada, and Cuba have been unsuccessful. The likelihood of Trump's creations, such as the White House ballroom and Kennedy Center remake, enjoying similar status to Ramses' statues is dimming. As Trump's star continues to fade, democracy and justice demand a reckoning.