People like to compare the current President of the United States, Donald Trump, with historical emperors. Not of the more thoughtful and just sort, but tyrants.

The decline of the Roman Empire took actually hundreds of years. But in particular Roman Emperors of the first and second century CE may actually remind us of quite similar traits of the current Conqueror or Emperor of the World.

Panem et Circensis. The exchange of freedom and, well, sort of democracy with entertainment of the most perverse kind. The phrase describing a political strategy of the rulers was probably coined by a Roman poet, Decimus Junius Juvenalis, or Juvenal, around 100 CE.

Trump’s posts on his own platform, Truth Social, are not always entertaining, in particular when he announces the obliteration of an entire civilization, the “blowing up” of an ally in the Middle East, if it “won’t behave”. The annexation of a peaceful island in the Arctic which happens (at least seems) to be an easy catch in order to enlarge Trump’s homeland by more than 100% (at least when looking at the Mercator projection).

Last night, Donald Trump announced,

I’ll be going to the G7, in France, immediately following what will be one of the Most Entertaining Nights in American History, the UFC World Championship Fights on the South Lawn of the White House. Records indicate that whilst fights of a much lower level took place at the White House throughout its long and storied History, nothing even close to this, the Greatest Fighters in the World, CHAMPIONS ALL, was even thought of for the People’s House! President DONALD J. TRUMP

The UFC World Championship Fights.

On the South Lawn of the White House.

One of the Most Entertaining Nights in American History. At least for some.

Mixed Martial Arts. What else would you expect of your favourite President?

4 June 2026 @ 11:32 UTC+2.

Last modified June 4, 2026.