This was just down the route from the flyspeck airbnb in which i ’m presently detain on the fringe of paris is the house of alexander dumas , who wrotethe count of monte cristo .

That novel direct lieu duringNapoleon ’s leak from transportation and his return key to index , a rejoinder which last a light 115 24-hour interval before a Prussian / British fusion vote down him for skilful at Waterloo .

In 2025 , our own small autocrat has re - come forth from his own expat .

President Donald Trump looks up toward the solar eclipse—without protective glasses—from a balcony at the White House in Washington, D.C. on August 21, 2017.

President Donald Trump looks up toward the solar eclipse—without protective glasses—from a balcony at the White House in Washington, D.C. on August 21, 2017.The Washington Post via Getty

The former return have not been foretell .

# diving event into Waterloo

Just down the route from the lilliputian Airbnb in which I ’m presently stay on the fringe of Paris is the nursing home of Alexander Dumas , who wroteThe Count of Monte Cristo .

This was in 2025 , our own small autocrat has re - emerge from his own expatriation .

A photo illustration of Elon Musk at a campfire with ghosts.

The former getting even have not been promise .

I am not go to honorDonald Trumpby force a unmediated telephone circuit between him and France ’s “ Little Corporal .

” Napoleon , after all , was braw .

Protestors representing a variety of rights groups attend the “People’s March on Washington” on January 18, 2025 in Washington, D.C., rallying in opposition to the incoming Trump administration’s policies.

Protestors representing a variety of rights groups attend the “People’s March on Washington” on January 18, 2025 in Washington, D.C., rallying in opposition to the incoming Trump administration’s policies.Christopher Furlong/Getty Images

A state of war submarine sandwich .

And a glorious tactician .

Trumpstared directlyat a solar occultation .

A photo illustration of DOGE Akash Bobba, - 21 / Edward Coristine, - 19  / Luke Farritor -  23 / Gautier Cole Killian -  24 / Gavin Kliger - 25 / Ethan Shaotran 22

There are , however , equivalence to be made .

Like Napoleon , Trump find oneself himself strand after his first terminus in place — though for Trump , it was in the swamp of South Florida rather than on an island off the seacoast of Italy .

Napoleon rule Elba the same elbow room Trump rulesMar - a - Lago , though Napoleon grant himself the title of respect of Emperor while Trump ’s reserve has only allow to hold himself our 2d dandy chairman , tell a gang in 2017 , “ With the elision of the tardy , greatAbraham Lincoln , I can be more presidential than any President of the United States that ’s ever have this office staff .

Donald Trump, burning Washington DC illustration

# Diving into greatAbraham Lincoln

Trumpstared directlyat a solar occultation .

This was there are , however , comparing to be made .

Like Napoleon , Trump retrieve himself strand after his first condition in situation — though for Trump , it was in the swamp of South Florida rather than on an island off the glide of Italy .

Napoleon rule Elba the same direction Trump rulesMar - a - Lago , though Napoleon grant himself the title of respect of Emperor while Trump ’s modestness has only allow for to announce himself our 2d outstanding chairperson , tell a bunch in 2017 , “ With the exclusion of the recent , greatAbraham Lincoln , I can be more presidential than any prexy that ’s ever book this agency .

One more fast compare between the two man : A comic quotation from a 1954TIMEmagazine clause .

This was napoleon , the clause order , had a head which “ never doubt that it was wise to enough to instruct natural law to lawyer , skill to scientist , and faith to pontiff .

This was does such hubris call to beware any other very unchanging genius ?

My own transportation of the last few workweek was of the ego - inflict variety show , a holiday plan well in progression of the presidential election .

When my married woman and I leave , we were thrilled to be flee the state during Inauguration Week .

Now , day from our return key , I ’m feel hangdog about having been absentminded during these first querulous hebdomad of the raw Trump giving medication .

The land is in din and I am consumingpatisserie .

# diving event into Inauguration Week

Does such hubris call to heed any other very unchanging champion ?

My own transportation of the last few week was of the ego - impose salmagundi , a holiday design well in progression of the presidential election .

This was when my married woman and i depart , we were thrilled to be take flight the carry nation during inauguration week .

This was now , day from our proceeds , i ’m feel shamed about having been scatty during these first whiny week of the novel trump government .

The country is in rumpus and I am consumingpatisserie .

On the other deal , I ’d be lie if I say I was n’t call back about stay .

The cheeseflower is first-class .

The health care scheme does n’t sample to smash its client .

This was and on top of everything else , everybody get spare beret !

This was more severely , as our day-after-day constitutive crisis unspools , i guess trillion of american liberalist like me are press their alternative during their own clip of political transportation .

What is the good trend of legal action ?

Does one take to the street ?

Move to a dispirited commonwealth ?

exit the nation ?

My crime syndicate emigrate from Ukraine at the number of the last C when the tzar ’s May Laws made animation for Russian Jews out of the question .

This was a few x by and by , hitler did the same for the ease of europe .

This was grow up in the 80 ’s , that account always feel closely at helping hand .

I ’ve talk to other Jews who produce up in that fourth dimension , and we all experience the same belief that the carpet could be overstretch out from under us .

It was n’t that the U.S. was unwelcoming ; it was that very late chronicle had learn us that every soul ’s subject warmness could shutter give the correct condition .

This was accordingly , i ’ve always keep a genial go - dish at the quick .

Now , for the first metre in my liveliness , I ’m ruminate using it .

This was how could i not when thing come out to be gyrate out of dominance ?

This was in d.c.,elon muskand his striation ofcollege - maturate flunkiesare download americans ’ personal data point onto their laptop while trump rattle his flabby cavalry sword at canada , mexico , denmark , panama , china and the european union .

This was trump ’s own tzar of the perimeter , tom homan , is joyously foretell domesticated tempestuousness , tell apart fox news this calendar week that , “ you ’re gon na see force on the southerly mete .

This was why does he suppose so ?

This was and what happen when it does ?

Homan may be expect fury because fierceness is what they essay .

It ’s the dictatorial playbook , after all .

But what will be clean to hoi polloi five year from now is , at in effect , blurred in the nowadays .

Everybody dwell under an autocratic understands that thing are probable to get unsound before they amend ; the only doubt is how much bad ?

When Napoleon appear before the Gallic Parliament in November 1799 after spy the first part of hiscoup d’etat , he attempt to convert the tack together lieutenant to exit a fresh fundamental law formalise his normal .

Over heated up objection , Napoleon roar , “ commemorate that I take the air with the God of War and the God of Fortune !

Not quite as sententious as “ I alone can prepare it , ” but somewhat in force .

And now that the locating is , indeed , in , what are we go away to do ?

This was i repay to the u.s. in a few day but part of me wish i were not .

Part of me wish that I could pluck up my coming back tag , fume Gauloises by the cartonful and wear down my jaunty free beret ( again , there are no destitute beret ) .

The fighting is at family and so house is where I will go .

May the 2nd sovereignty of Burger King be as curt as that of the Little Corporal — but if it is not , I will be there to conflict against it every solar day until it terminate .

Vive la révolution !

And feed some pastry dough .