When President Joseph R. Biden Jr. hosted democracy summits at the White House in 2021 and 2023, he deliberately excluded President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey, who he had previously described as an “autocrat” who deserved to be ousted by voters. On Tuesday, however, President Trump offered a more positive assessment of the Turkish president, even as protests erupted following the arrest of the mayor of Istanbul, Erdogan’s chief political rival. Trump described Erdogan as a “good leader,” making no mention of the arrest or protests. Since taking office, Trump has embraced world leaders who abandon democratic principles, replacing the bipartisan effort to promote democracy worldwide with support for autocratic leaders. His actions also serve as a model for democratically elected leaders in countries like Serbia and Israel, who have shown a willingness to push the boundaries of their own institutions. Rosa Balfour, Europe director for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, noted that Trump’s words and actions have a significant impact, but also pointed out that the U.S. does not condemn or punish attempts to undermine the rule of law or democracy. Former member of Congress Jane Harman pointed out that autocratic leaders have been eroding democratic principles for years, and that Trump’s return to power has prompted some voters to question the authoritarian leanings of candidates and parties. The author also notes that Trump is not the first president to tolerate questionable actions from allies when deemed necessary, pointing to Biden’s interactions with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Despite this, Trump’s election has coincided with actions by elected leaders that appear to depart from democratic principles, including in Israel and Serbia. While some note that Trump is not the first to do so, his words and actions are being closely watched by other leaders, who may be emboldened by the lack of condemnation from the U.S.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/29/world/europe/trump-authoritarians-inspiration.html