Donald Trump embodies the spirit of our age

New: Gift this subscriber-only story to your friends and family

When Mr Donald Trump spoke at the United Nations last month, the audience laughed at him. It was an unprecedented insult to an American president. But I have an uneasy suspicion that Mr Trump may have the last laugh. The 45th United States president could yet go down as a leader who changed the course of history and embodied the spirit of an age.

Historic figures do not have to be good people, or even particularly intelligent. Mr Trump is a habitual liar, whose administration has set up detention camps for children. Mr Rex Tillerson, his former secretary of state, is reputed to have called the President a "moron". But none of that need stop Mr Trump from being what philosopher Georg Hegel called a "world-historical figure".

Already a subscriber? 

Read the full story and more at $9.90/month

Get exclusive reports and insights with more than 500 subscriber-only articles every month

Unlock these benefits

  • All subscriber-only content on ST app and straitstimes.com

  • Easy access any time via ST app on 1 mobile device

  • E-paper with 2-week archive so you won't miss out on content that matters to you

Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.

A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on October 24, 2018, with the headline Donald Trump embodies the spirit of our age. Subscribe