American Bunga Bunga

Silvio Berlusconi abused, insulted and exploited several women, who ultimately brought him down. Could the same happen to Donald Trump?

- Rula Jebreal

AN OVERLY TANNED rightwing populist with a fervent base seemingly dodges scandal after scandal, until several women he’s abused, insulted or exploited finally lead to his downfall. That scenario may sound like Donald Trump’s presidency, albeit with a liberal fantasy ending. But I’m actually talking about Silvio Berlusconi, the flamboyant former Italian prime minister.

The two leaders have a lot in common. Both are wealthy demagogues with long records of bankruptcy and shady business dealings. Both are celebrities—Berlusconi once ran a TV empire, Trump had a hit reality-TV franchise. Both entered politics, claiming that only they could fix a broken political system— one from which they handsomely benefited. Both are savvy salesmen who appealed to disgruntled voters by  projecting themselves— paradoxically—as cartoonish authoritarians and victimized everymen. Both became embroiled in sex scandals. Trump allegedly cheated on his pregnant wife with porn star Stormy Daniels (real name Stephanie Clifford), then tried to buy her silence just before the 2016 election. Berlusconi was accused of having sex with a young prostitute at a “bunga bunga” party. Both men also saw those controversies spiral into probes about cover-ups and the abuse of power.

Most Americans—like most Italians—don’t really care about their leaders’ sex lives. But they do care if their leaders are corrupt. They do care if they bribe people, using fixers who also sell their access to the head of state. So Trump—and his critics—may want to study Berlusconi’s demise—and how he sullied the country’s democracy on his way down.