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The outgoing US President Donald Trump
Photo: MANDEL NGAN / AFP
SPIEGEL:
Mr. Robin, since Donald Trump took office you have repeatedly warned against seeing him as a doer who breaks all the rules.
How did you come to this conclusion?
Robin:
Trump has always stood for more continuity in conservative and republican politics than many would admit, and that has largely been confirmed during his tenure.
His political style was of course new, but his hostility towards democracy, racism, nationalism and populism were not.
At the same time, he failed to instrumentalize these positions to strengthen his party and the conservative movement, i.e. to enlarge his base.
SPIEGEL:
And now, after storming the Capitol?
Robin:
What happened on January 6th showed above all how isolated Trump is.
Many experts were afraid that he would use his office and staff to secure his power forever.
The opposite was the case: he failed to be re-elected.
He failed to convince his vice president to overturn the election result, nor did his attorney general.
In fact, he was unable to convince anyone in his immediate circle to support him on this mission.
Seen in this light, January 6th was Trump's last desperate attempt to fight the election result after he had no other means at his disposal.
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