Trump as Russian Oligarch -- his business-political model

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3. Trump as the megalomaniac he is

His transition from donor to candidate, although partly motivated by megalomania, has also been designed to shore up his businesses. Just as Russian businessmen use political power to direct money to their own companies, so does Mr. Trump. Federal records in June showed that a fifth of his campaign spending was being directed toward his own businesses, ensuring that he makes a profit whatever happens. He has used campaign events to promote Trump products and a campaign visit to Scotland to promote a Trump golf course. Now those around him are hinting that even if he loses, he can turn his mob of angry followers into the foundation of a media company.

As a candidate, Mr. Trump has used the same kinds of tactics that Mr. Manafort, on behalf of Russian and pro-Russian clients, deployed in Ukraine: pumping up ethnic (in Mr. Trump’s case, white ethnic) discontent, playing on public fear and hatred, undermining trust in democracy. In 2006, Mr. Manafort instructed his client, Mr. Yanukovych, to begin talking up the possibility of election fraud. Mr. Yanukovych’s party began training election observers. It’s an amazing coincidence, but these are exactly the same tactics that Mr. Trump has also deployed.