Donald Trump Is 'Living in Fear' and Building an 'Inner Sanctum' of Loyal Sycophants, Expert Warns

President Donald Trump is 'living in fear' and displaying behaviour that historian Ruth Ben-Ghiat associates with authoritarian strongmen, she argued in a July interview that was republished in a special edition of The Daily Beast Podcast on 8 September.

Ben-Ghiat, a professor of history and Italian studies at New York University who studies fascism, authoritarianism and propaganda, spoke with Daily Beast host Joanna Coles about the behaviour of leaders who increasingly rely on personal loyalty and protection. The original interview was published on 23 July, while the 8 September episode brought together excerpts from several earlier conversations.

Donald Trump 'Lives in Fear,' Historian Argues

Ben-Ghiat said the 'secret of strongmen' is that 'they live in fear,' arguing that leaders who view themselves as vulnerable often create increasingly protected environments around them.

During the discussion, she linked that idea to Trump's focus on security and to the White House ballroom project, referring to underground security facilities associated with the development as a 'safe space.' Her comments were presented as a historical and political interpretation rather than evidence of Trump's private state of mind.

Coles challenged part of that analysis by noting that Trump has faced genuine threats to his life. Trump was wounded during an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, in July 2024. A second man, Ryan Wesley Routh, was later convicted of attempting to assassinate Trump at his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida, in September 2024.

Coles argued that those incidents gave Trump concrete reasons to be concerned about his personal security. Ben-Ghiat acknowledged the point before returning to her broader argument about how fear can shape leadership.

Her concern was not simply that a political leader would seek greater protection after being targeted. Instead, she argued that problems can emerge when concerns about vulnerability become tied to demands for personal loyalty and a shrinking circle of advisers.

Ben-Ghiat also discussed Trump's remarks following the killing of Iran's then-supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. She referred to Trump's statement, 'I got him before he got me,' and described the sentiment as reflecting a 'hunt or be hunted' mentality.

The historian used the remark to illustrate her argument that leaders can increasingly interpret political and security challenges through the lens of personal survival. That remains Ben-Ghiat's analysis, rather than an established account of Trump's motives.

Donald Trump and the 'Inner Sanctum' Warning

Ben-Ghiat said authoritarian leaders often create what she called 'inner sanctums' populated by loyalists, family members and others they consider personally trustworthy.

Speaking about authoritarian systems broadly, she argued that relatives can become influential because leaders may trust them with sensitive information that is not shared more widely. Her comments did not establish that any particular member of Trump's family had engaged in wrongdoing.

The central warning in her analysis concerned the loss of dissent. Ben-Ghiat argued that leaders who surround themselves with people unwilling to challenge them risk losing the objective feedback necessary for sound decision-making.

She compared the issue to a basic management problem. Even powerful figures, she said, need advisers who are prepared to tell them when a decision is flawed or when circumstances require a different approach.

Without that challenge, Ben-Ghiat argued, leaders can become increasingly insulated from criticism and more dependent on advisers who reinforce their existing views. In her framework, that dynamic can contribute to poor decisions and a heightened focus on threats.

The discussion also underscored an important distinction between documented security concerns and claims about a leader's psychological condition. Trump's experiences with attempted assassination provide a factual basis for heightened security precautions.

Ben-Ghiat nevertheless argued that the political consequences matter when personal protection and loyalty become central features of leadership. Her descriptions of Trump 'living in fear' and of leaders creating an 'inner sanctum' are her characterisations based on her research into authoritarianism, not a medical diagnosis or an official description of White House decision-making.

Her broader warning was that loyalty tests can become dangerous when they crowd out independent advice. In that situation, she argued, leaders risk losing 'objective feedback on your actions' from the people closest to them.