Political philosophy suggests that Trump will either double down on his behavior or eventually give in to institutional opposition.

Mere weeks into his presidency, commentators are already having difficulties in characterising Donald Trump’s administration. Daniel Kato writes that rereading Hannah Arendt and Stephen Skowronek may provide some clues in deciphering Donald Trump. Skowronek’s writings point to an ‘institutional thickening’ that may continue to emerge to check Trump as it has done with out of control presidents in the past. But, according to Arendt’s thinking Trump may yet hunker down, drawing strength from the resistance to him, and continue to consolidate his cult of personality.