Picture an American business tycoon, gregarious and charming, who constantly surrounds himself with extravagant signs of wealth. He inherited his riches, plasters his name everywhere he can, and even ran for public office.
Pop quiz: Am I describing GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump or Charles Foster Kane, the titular character of Orson Welles’ 1941 film “Citizen Kane?”
Cinephiles and students of film will recognize “Citizen Kane” as the landmark movie that has topped the American Film Institute’s list of the greatest movies of all time not once, but twice. Casual moviegoers, however, may only know Charles Kane in passing, or they never have heard of him at all.
In short, Charles Foster Kane (played flawlessly by Orson Welles) is a fictional newspaper magnate with a seemingly unlimited fortune. As his success grows, so does his ego, and his attitude ultimately alienates him from everyone he cares about, and he loses his newspaper and his friends.
The similarities between Trump and Kane are astounding, and they extend far beyond surface-level comparisons. Obviously both are wealthy businessmen in their respective eras of American prosperity, but there’s more to it than that. These two figures not only behave alike and come from parallel backdrops – they seem to share a psyche of self-importance.
Although Kane reports the news, he often dominates the headlines himself. As such, his name is everywhere – on billboards, magazines and even his own newspapers. In addition, Kane elevates his own name and initials to the level of idolatry. He creates ice sculptures and wrought-iron fences in the shape of gigantic Ks, and he boxes up priceless works of art, stamping “KANE” on the sides.
Likewise, Trump has turned his very name into a brand associated with power. Trump Real Estate, Trump Steaks, Trump Airlines, Trump Magazine, Trump Tower… there is no mistaking who created these products. For Kane and Trump both, the name holds great influence.
The two businessmen possess loose morals when it comes to achieving their goals. As soon as Kane gains full control of his newspaper, he steals another paper’s staff, sparks a war with Spain and uses his influence to thwart one of his business rivals. Similarly, Trump has unabashedly used bankruptcy laws to benefit himself and his companies.
After utilizing loopholes and unethical deals to get ahead, both men then asked the people of America to trust them with governmental power. Kane ran for governor of New York, and Trump is deeply embedded in the race for President of the United States. Both ran on platforms opposing the political machines of their day, fighting the “establishment.” What’s more, Kane – despite his immense wealth and disconnect from the public – called himself a voice for the common man. Trump’s strategy is comparable, campaigning as a billionaire man of the people.
The two individuals share other miscellaneous attributes, such as the marriage and divorce of multiple progressively younger women. Kane received support from Teddy Roosevelt, the champion of democracy, as well Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. Similarly, Trump has been backed by generally well-regarded figures like Dr. Ben Carson and Gov. Chris Christie in addition to former Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan David Duke.
“I’m something of an authority on what people will think,” Kane snarls in one scene, perfectly summing up his worldview. He is a megalomaniacal tyrant with an unquenchable ego who honestly believes he has a monopoly on the truth.
Here is where Charles Foster Kane and Donald Trump really line up. Last year, Trump said, “I will absolutely apologize, sometime in the hopefully distant future, if I’m ever wrong.” His pride is massive, and everything he does – his companies, his real estate, his campaign – is in service to his own self-image.
In the film, the audience gets a peek at the end of Kane’s life: he is alone, destitute and unfulfilled. No amount of wealth or power could replace the human relationships he lacked. If Trump’s similarities with Kane continue, the GOP businessman might be able to use “Citizen Kane” as a crystal ball to look into his future.
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