A.B. Stoddard on Trump’s Psyche—and The Implications for 2028

A.B. Stoddard on Trump’s Psyche—and The Implications for 2028

From Conversations with Bill Kristol by Bill Kristol

April 23, 2026 · 1h 4m

About this episode

A.B. Stoddard analyzes Trump's character and the implications for the 2028 elections.

“This branding binge [Trump] has been on: with everything he’s trying to have put his name on. To build the White House ballroom, the arch in front of Arlington Cemetery. And the war and military adventurism. It’s a way of trying to cement his state permanently as a dominant figure in history, because he knows he’s going to die.” So argues veteran political reporter A.B. Stoddard in a bracing analysis of President Trump’s character and conduct during his second term. Reflecting on the last ten years, Stoddard argues that Trump’s aspirations to cement his role as a dominant figure in history have increased dramatically—and the acceleration of his actions must be taken seriously. For Stoddard, above all, this requires us to confront questions about the 2028 elections, including the possibility that Trump might refuse to leave office or try to keep the presidency in the family. Stoddard warns against the assumption that normalcy will return after 2028: “People just want to hope that we’re going to keep with term-limited presidents.... I don’t think we know what’s coming.”

People in this episode

Host: Bill Kristol

Guest: A.B. Stoddard

Topics covered

  • Trump's psyche
  • 2028 elections
  • political analysis
  • presidential conduct
  • historical implications

Keywords

  • Trump
  • A.B. Stoddard
  • 2028 elections
  • political analysis
  • presidency
  • historical figure

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Arlington Cemetery

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