BILLBOARD News Now
Unplugged
(Editor’s note: Mike Allen publishes Axios AM daily. His colleague Marc Caputo interviewed President Trump at the White House yesterday. It provides an insight into Trump’s all-powerful “Great Man” theory.)
President Trump declared on “The Axios Show” yesterday that he’s discovered “no limits” to his power since going to war with Iran.
- A new book reveals he’s been entertaining an even grander idea: that he may be the most powerful man in history, Axios’ Zachary Basu and Marc Caputo report.
Why it matters: Trump is no longer merely testing the limits of the presidency. He’s describing power in world-historical terms — placing himself in the lineage of conquerors, dictators and strongmen who bent nations to their will.
- In a wide-ranging, 45-minute interview yesterday with Axios’ Marc Caputo, Trump repeatedly measured power by submission: G7 leaders believed him when he joked “I’m the boss,” he said, while Israel has “a lot of respect for me” and will “do as I say.”
👀 Zoom in: In “Regime Change,” the forthcoming book by Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, Trump proudly shows off a document arguing he’s more powerful than Attila the Hun, Genghis Khan, Napoleon, Stalin, Mao and Hitler.
Trump “began reading from it,” the authors write, “reciting the names of some of history’s most powerful figures” and explaining how each “fell short of his own power as U.S. president.”
- “They didn’t have airplanes, right? You couldn’t travel around,” Trump said of Alexander the Great, the Caesars and William the Conqueror. “Napoleon,” he added “with relish,” according to the authors.
- Haberman and Swan write that the revealing part was “the evident pleasure he took in the company of Mao, Hitler, and Stalin” — and “the untroubled ease with which he accepted a place among men who had reshaped the world through conquest and fear.”
🌐 Zoom out: Hints of that grandiose theory of power surfaced throughout Trump’s interview with Axios, hours after returning from what he called a “very dominant” G7 summit in France.
- Trump named China’s Xi Jinping and India’s Narendra Modi as the world leaders he most admires, praising Xi as “all business” and Modi as “a very tough cookie.”
- He declined to identify the leaders he considers the weakest — then pivoted to lamenting Vladimir Putin’s absence from the G7, which was the G8 prior to Russia’s expulsion after its 2014 annexation of Crimea.
- Trump lingered on French President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to honor him with a dinner at Versailles, the kind of imperial stage Trump called “my weakness.”
Between the lines: Allies, in Trump’s telling, are only relevant when they recognize who holds the real power.
- “If it weren’t for me, Israel would not exist today,” Trump told Axios, adding that his relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “good, but we have to keep him a little bit sane.”
- Trump struck a similar tone toward Republican hawks furious over his Iran deal: “Some guys that I used to respect, I don’t respect anymore. They’re hardliners,” he said.
- Pressed on why the deal falls short of his original demands, a defiant Trump opted for his own reality — insisting the outcome does, in fact, amount to “unconditional surrender” by Iran as well as “regime change. Reality check: For all of Trump’s claims of limitless power, he acknowledged one force still constrains him — the economy.
Reality check: For all of Trump’s claims of limitless power, he acknowledged one force still constrains him — the economy.
- He argued that extending the war to satisfy hawks could have triggered a “worldwide depression.” He pointed to falling oil prices and a surging stock market as proof he made the right decision to back a deal that could end the Iran war.
- “I have one primary wish as president … I never want to be the late, great Herbert Hoover,” Trump said, referring to the 31st president, who’s forever associated with the Great Depression.
The bottom line: Trump posted the “Great Men” document on Truth Social yesterday, calling its author a “presidential historian.” Haberman and Swan report the author was actually the longtime caddy and personal confidant to golfer Gary Player.
- The document’s conclusion: Trump’s willingness to use his power on a global scale “makes him by far the most powerful person that has EVER walked this planet.”
Watch a clip from the interview.
Use icons and envelope above to forward this post to your friends.
Follow us on Twitter (X), Bluesky, Instagram, Facebook or Threads.
Still Time
Recent polling by The Washington Post-Ipsos found 66 percent of adults knew little or nothing about Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill”. That’s sad. This proposed bill impacts various aspects of American life and economy as related to tax changes and spending cuts. The...
What Can I Do
“What Can I do” was the likely question asked yesterday in living rooms across America. We watched on live television a United States Senator Alex Padilla (D.CA) thrown to the floor & handcuffed by federal authorities and the FBI. We must make certain our family...
At Risk
Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” has clearly shown what’s at risk for American families. Thousands will lose their health insurance; others are confronted with losing food assistance. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) scored the bill saying the legislation also cuts...
Nixon & Trump
President Nixon in 1969 wanted to get rid of the costly failures of the Great Society. President Trump in 2025 wants to get his rich buddies a tax break. Both sought power. In Nixon’s eyes power was political success. Trump’s view of power is the accumulation of...
Decoration Day
Americans are celebrating this day initially observed as Decoration Day honoring fallen soldiers. Citizens wave flags, attend parades, ring bells and hold family BBQs. Most importantly Americans will visit cemeteries to place flags, flowers or wreaths on the graves...
Medicaid Follow Up
Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill” was the subject of a commentary yesterday. House of Representatives Republicans is trying to fulfill his campaign tax promises. The House Rules Committee will meet at 1AM tomorrow to consider the bill. Cutting Medicaid has been the...
Tax Dollars at Work
At this moment in time this is what’s going on in the House side of Congress. They are playing with our tax dollars, cutting spending for programs that take care of less fortunate Americans and trying to fulfill Trump’s campaign tax promises. Funding legislation...
Political Tidbits
(Editor’s Note: For our new readers Political Tidbits is done periodically. BTW, any tips appreciated. Send to [email protected],) 2028 campaign must be underway…potentials are auditioning…New Hampshire had a visit from Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker…gave a...
All Eyes
It’s the time of year when all eyes are on horse racing. The Kentucky Derby kicks off the Triple Crown on Saturday. Thousands gather in Louisville or in front of their TV to see the “greatest two minutes in racing.” Faithful followers of the sport will stay focused...
The Question Now
On the eve of President Trump’s second 100 days, we find ourselves living in an America of chaos and destruction. The question now is what will the second 100 days bring? Will he continue to ignore the Congress, shred the federal bureaucracy, write off low-income...
Now Who
How its playing in Florida Congressman Byron Donalds (R.FL) found out last night what it’s like to have President Trump’s endorsement of his candidacy for Florida Governor. Against the advice of national Republican leaders Donalds held a town hall in his...
Do You Believe
Those who believe in democracy have a core set of beliefs that are vital in today’s environment. Those beliefs include free and fair elections, freedom of speech, press and the right to assemble. A willingness to hold our institutions accountable; and our judiciary...
BILLBOARD Archives
We Have Forgotten
(Editor’s note: Commentary by Jenny N. Phillips.) We have forgotten – and we are blind to the reminders. As we lose our country’s direction, its guiding light and its past, we flounder toward its complete destruction. There are some who care, but caring hasn’t...
State Is Set
(Editor’s note: Received a personal email from a longtime friend – Robert L. Harris. He is an experienced and keen observer of history, government & politics. His knowledge extends from years of work in the U. S. Senate and as a government affairs advisor to...
Not Normal
At midnight we entered the most frightening time in recent US history. Reading the morning news two pieces stood out. These are not normal times…as a result we are posting both. To read in full requires links to be clicked…sorry but this is the only way to share...
Building Opposition
Americans from “sea to shining sea” are protesting the Musk/Trump annihilation of our country. Millions came out Saturday to raise their voices against the chaos & destruction since Trump took his oath “to protect & defend the Constitution.” Citizens are...
We Cannot Wait
Citizens recognize the urgency of the moment. They are fighting for their country, holding street protests, waving signs at public events and packing town halls. They see Trump MAGA policies destroying the United States. These are not ordinary times… where is the...
Dear Mr. President,
Dear Mr. President, With all that is going on I am concerned about you and your presidency. This concern did not begin with Signal Chat that has turned into a scandal. It appears some of your cabinet appointments are not living up to your expectations. Expect the...
Humpy Dumpty
Humpy Dumpty sat on a wall. Humpy Dumpty had a great fall. All the king's horses and all the king's men Couldn't put Humpy together again. Humpy Dumpty is a character in an English nursey rhyme…today Humpy Dumpty is our American government & democracy. Since...
No More Kings
(Editor’s note: Wes Holden, a student of history and now a freelance opinion writer. He worked with U. S. Senator Jay Rockefeller (D/WV) 30 years. His most recent opinion appeared Saturday in the Charleston, WV Gazette-Mail.) We all saw it. First there was his...
Under Attack
As Americans prepare to hear President Trump’s State of the Union speech tomorrow evening they face the attack on our loss of free speech, the loss of free press and the right for the people to peaceably assemble as declared in the First Amendment to the Constitution....
Short Course
(Editor’s note: The news about federal spending, tax cuts and the budget is coming at us fast and furious. Axios AM by Mike Allen offered a short course about what’s happening…past & present. Thus, we are sharing his insight & hope it will be helpful…at...
Iowa 2.0
Florida Republicans are about to experience Iowa without cold & snow. A flurry of activity this week predicts 2026 GOP gubernatorial race will be a runoff between President Trump and Governor Ron DeSantis. Bet political junkies cannot wait to see if Florida has a...
Outrage
For nearly 40 days we have witnessed the tearing down of our government, freezing funds, deleting agencies, firing faithful civil service employees. And it’s just getting started. Elon Musk, who leads the DOGE, has been give almost unlimited power by President Trump...