--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What Trump is not smart enough to even…" description: "\"What Trump is not smart enough to even grasp is that the kind of popularity that Putin has can only be achieved in the context of retro-totalitarianism..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c6/masha-gessen-2322_context_what-trump-is-not-smart-enough-to-even-g_417218.jpg" --- # What Trump is not smart enough to even grasp is that the… ![“What Trump is not smart enough to even grasp is that the kind of popularity that Putin has can only be achieved in the context of retro-totalitarianism.” quote by Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c6/masha-gessen-2322_context_what-trump-is-not-smart-enough-to-even-g_417218.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c6/masha-gessen-2322_context_what-trump-is-not-smart-enough-to-even-g_417218.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7c6/masha-gessen-2322_context_what-trump-is-not-smart-enough-to-even-g_417218.jpg) > “What Trump is not smart enough to even grasp is that the kind of popularity that Putin has can only be achieved in the context of retro-totalitarianism.” [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Popularity rooted in authoritarian nostalgia thrives only when societies accept retro‑totalitarian norms, limiting genuine democratic appeal. **In simple terms:** Popularity from authoritarian nostalgia needs retro‑totalitarian context. Key Takeaway Recognize the limits of authoritarian appeal. Themes politics authoritarianism popularity Mood critical analytical Type political commentary When to use this quote - election campaigns - public opinion shaping - authoritarian regimes Key Concepts political science media influence social psychology Questions to Reflect On - Why do people cling to authoritarian nostalgia? - Can democracy ever fully counter retro‑totalitarian appeal? A Different Perspective It ignores individuals who support such leaders for personal gain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Context](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/context/) [Popularity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/popularity/) [Russia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/russia/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) [Totalitarianism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/totalitarianism/) ## Related quotes > [Putin's survival depends on land grabs of foreign territories. He needs new annexations. 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Putin doesn't know how to deal with somebody who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/trump-very-much-wants-to-be-liked-by-putin-and-i-think-sincerely/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [It seems that probably Putin's father maintained some connection to the secret police throughout his life. One sign of that is that they had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/it-seems-that-probably-putin-s-father-maintained-some-connection-to/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [I've learned over the years to hear what Putin is railing against in his own railing way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/i-ve-learned-over-the-years-to-hear-what-putin-is-railing-against-in/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [Of course, Putin may well have reasons for wanting Trump to be president - not least Trump's apparent skepticism toward NATO and his lack…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/of-course-putin-may-well-have-reasons-for-wanting-trump-to-be/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [The rest of Russia is watching the same television that Vladimir Putin is watching. 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How can a powerful, wealthy American man hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/many-americans-have-been-looking-for-an-explanation-for-mr-trump-s/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [Both Trump and Putin use language primarily to communicate not facts or opinions but power: it's not what the words mean that matters but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/both-trump-and-putin-use-language-primarily-to-communicate-not-facts/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [I think that Putin's strategy has been throwing a lot of money, fairly haphazardly, at a lot of projects aimed at disrupting Western relations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/i-think-that-putin-s-strategy-has-been-throwing-a-lot-of-money-fairly/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) ## More by Masha Gessen > [There's this American pretense, which is the pretense of the journalist with the view from nowhere - which has somehow morphed into the journalist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/there-s-this-american-pretense-which-is-the-pretense-of-the/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [Where incompetence is prized, it is ever-present.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/where-incompetence-is-prized-it-is-ever-present/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [Pussy Riot have certainly changed some people's assumptions about the role of political art and the relationship between the intelligentsia and the church. 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They maintain that sense of mobilization that's essential for totalitarian societies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/poverty-and-scarcity-are-actually-very-good-for-totalitarian/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [I think that Putin's strategy has been throwing a lot of money, fairly haphazardly, at a lot of projects aimed at disrupting Western relations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/i-think-that-putin-s-strategy-has-been-throwing-a-lot-of-money-fairly/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [Both Trump and Putin use language primarily to communicate not facts or opinions but power: it's not what the words mean that matters but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/both-trump-and-putin-use-language-primarily-to-communicate-not-facts/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [I worked both as a Russian journalist and an American journalist and ran a bunch of magazines in Moscow over the course of about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masha-gessen/i-worked-both-as-a-russian-journalist-and-an-american-journalist-and/) [Masha Gessen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masha-gessen/) > [I have no doubt that there are Russian efforts to disturb the fabric of American democracy, but they're disruption efforts. 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