{"id":249770,"date":"2026-11-06T01:41:33","date_gmt":"2026-11-05T20:11:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=249770"},"modified":"2026-11-06T01:41:33","modified_gmt":"2026-11-05T20:11:33","slug":"trump-akd-the-politics-of-power-vanity-versus-conviction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/trump-akd-the-politics-of-power-vanity-versus-conviction\/","title":{"rendered":"Trump, AKD & The Politics Of Power: Vanity Versus Conviction"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Vishwamithra<\/a> –<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.\u201d <\/i>~Anonymous<\/p>\n

America has delivered a formidable electoral rebuke to Donald Trump. What had been unfolding before the electorate’s eyes\u2014political retribution, controversies surrounding personal enrichment, extravagant displays of presidential grandeur and an increasingly bitter argument over the character of American government\u2014has now found expression at the ballot box.\"\"<\/p>\n

From Texas to Kansas, from South Carolina to the industrial heartland, Democratic victories have penetrated territory long considered safely Republican. The party has secured control of both chambers of Congress, overturning the political arrangement that enabled Trump to exercise power with comparatively little legislative resistance.<\/p>\n

But the significance of November 3 cannot be measured merely in congressional seats.<\/p>\n

The deeper question is whether America has simply rejected an unpopular administration’s conduct or rediscovered the constitutional instinct that no president, however powerful, stands above democratic accountability.<\/p>\n

That distinction matters enormously.<\/p>\n

The Electorate’s Anger Had Many Sources<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

The temptation to interpret the election as an uncomplicated referendum on Trump’s personality should be resisted.<\/p>\n

Americans were also voting on the price of groceries, housing affordability, economic insecurity, tariffs and the consequences of war with Iran.<\/p>\n

Exit polling indicated widespread dissatisfaction with living costs and the country’s direction. Democratic advances extended into constituencies that had previously supported Trump.<\/p>\n

Economic distress and political disillusionment converged.<\/p>\n

This is important because an election driven partly by material hardship cannot automatically be interpreted as a philosophical endorsement of the victorious party. The Democrats have won legislative power. Whether they can translate that victory into effective governance remains another question. Yet the electorate has unquestionably altered the balance of power in Washington.<\/p>\n

The presidency will no longer confront a Congress controlled entirely by its own party once the new legislature convenes. That is constitutional accountability operating through the ballot box.<\/p>\n

The Epstein Files: Power Meets the Demand for Disclosure<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Few controversies have exposed the tension between political power and public accountability more sharply than the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. The scandal concerns far more than the names of influential individuals appearing in investigative documents. At its center are victims of sexual exploitation, failures of institutional protection and legitimate demands for transparency.<\/p>\n

Congress enacted legislation requiring the disclosure of Epstein-related records. The Justice Department’s delays, extensive redactions and subsequent releases generated criticism from lawmakers and victims’ advocates.<\/p>\n

Trump’s earlier association with Epstein has naturally attracted scrutiny. But association is not proof of criminal involvement, and uncorroborated allegations cannot responsibly be presented as established fact. Trump has denied wrongdoing.<\/p>\n

The legitimate political question concerns whether the administration handled disclosure consistently, transparently and without preferential treatment. The presidency cannot demand public confidence while appearing reluctant to submit politically uncomfortable matters to independent examination.<\/p>\n

Equally, congressional investigators must distinguish evidence from insinuation. The pursuit of accountability loses its legitimacy when it becomes merely another instrument of partisan vengeance. The victims deserve something more substantial than a political spectacle. They deserve truth, due process and justice.<\/p>\n

A Wedding, a Russian Benefactor and Questions of Influence<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Then came the extraordinary disclosures surrounding Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding celebrations.<\/p>\n

Investigative reporting by ProPublica established that Umar Kremlev, a wealthy Russian businessman with connections to Vladimir Putin’s political establishment, financed substantial portions of the May 2026 celebrations in the Bahamas. The arrangements reportedly included private-island accommodation, entertainment and an elaborate fireworks display.<\/p>\n

Trump Jr. and his wife acknowledged Kremlev’s generosity, describing it as a personal gift without political motives. Congressional Democrats subsequently sought information about the relationship and the financing arrangements. A wedding gift is not, by itself, evidence of corruption.<\/p>\n

But when the recipient is the American president’s son and the benefactor possesses significant foreign political connections, questions about access, influence and possible conflicts of interest are entirely legitimate. The public deserves to know whether private relationships create opportunities for foreign interests to approach political power through family connections.<\/p>\n

The issue is not the extravagance of the celebration. Wealthy families are entitled to celebrate weddings. The issue is whether proximity to the presidency creates obligations of transparency that ordinary private citizens do not bear. In a republic, the distinction between family privilege and public authority must remain unmistakable.<\/p>\n

The Ballroom: A Monument to Presidential Priorities?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Perhaps no image better illustrates the controversy surrounding Trump’s conception of presidential grandeur than his White House ballroom project. The administration has promoted an ambitious addition to the presidential complex, complete with imposing architectural features and lavish ceremonial facilities. Supporters defend the project as an improvement to a historic institution and a practical venue for official functions.<\/p>\n

Critics question its scale, oversight and the appropriateness of devoting presidential attention to architectural extravagance amid economic hardship. Reporting has also raised concerns about preliminary designs, including fire-safety provisions and disagreements between Trump and an architect.<\/p>\n

Most revealingly, Trump’s first public appearance following the Republican electoral defeat focused substantially on the ballroom’s construction and decorative features.<\/p>\n

The contrast was striking.<\/p>\n

While political Washington contemplated the consequences of a historic electoral reversal, the president discussed limestone pillars, chandeliers and marble floors. There is nothing inherently objectionable about architectural ambition. But presidential leadership is judged partly by the relationship between national circumstances and the priorities publicly emphasized by those entrusted with power. A president discussing ceremonial splendor while citizens express anxiety about everyday survival invites a question that no amount of marble can conceal:<\/p>\n

What does political leadership owe the people beyond the projection of national magnificence?<\/p>\n

Power, Personality and Constitutional Restraint<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Trump’s political style has consistently emphasized personal loyalty, public confrontation and the projection of strength. His supporters regard these qualities as evidence of decisiveness and resistance to entrenched institutions. His critics see dangers in a governing approach that places personal authority in recurring tension with institutional independence.<\/p>\n

The constitutional question is more important than either interpretation. The American presidency is powerful, but it is not sovereign. Congress controls legislation and public expenditure. Courts interpret law. Federalism distributes authority. Elections permit citizens to withdraw political support.<\/p>\n

These arrangements were designed precisely because the republic’s founders understood the dangers of concentrated power. The 2026 election has restored an important legislative counterweight. Whether that counterweight strengthens constitutional government will depend on how responsibly both parties exercise their authority.<\/p>\n

Democratic oversight must not become indiscriminate retaliation. Republican opposition must not become automatic obstruction. And the president must accept that disagreement from Congress is not an assault upon the legitimacy of his office. Democracy requires institutions capable of surviving the ambitions and grievances of their temporary occupants.<\/p>\n

From Washington to Colombo: Two Different Political Traditions<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

For Sri Lankans, the American experience invites an instructive comparison with Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the National People’s Power.<\/p>\n

The differences begin with their political origins.<\/p>\n

Trump emerged from private business, celebrity culture and a political movement organized substantially around his personal identity. Dissanayake emerged from decades of party organization, ideological activism and opposition politics within the Janata Vimukthi Peramuna. The NPP’s declared political project emphasizes institutional reform, anti-corruption measures and a transformation of established governing practices.<\/p>\n

Trump’s political program emphasizes nationalism, executive authority, immigration restrictions and a challenge to institutions he regards as obstructive. These differences are substantive, not merely stylistic. Yet political origins cannot establish the moral worth of an administration.<\/p>\n

A leader shaped by ideological commitment can still exercise power badly. A leader emphasizing personal authority remains subject to constitutional limits and electoral accountability.<\/p>\n

Dissanayake’s government has made notable anti-corruption efforts and maintained economic stabilization, but independent assessments also identify delayed reforms, persistent poverty and unresolved questions concerning minority rights and security legislation.<\/p>\n

Sri Lanka therefore has no reason to treat philosophical declarations as substitutes for measurable achievement. The question is whether the NPP can translate its stated principles into institutions that protect citizens irrespective of party allegiance. That is the same democratic standard by which American leaders must be judged.<\/p>\n

Sri Lanka Knows the Dangers of Personal Rule<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Sri Lanka’s own political history offers ample warnings against the concentration of authority.<\/p>\n

Executive presidential power, political patronage, weakened institutional independence and the personalization of public office have repeatedly troubled its democratic development.<\/p>\n

The Aragalaya-22<\/i> demonstrated the consequences when public confidence in governing institutions collapses. It also revealed that popular anger, however powerful, cannot by itself construct durable alternatives. The subsequent election of Dissanayake and the NPP reflected demands for a different political culture. But system change cannot be measured by replacing one political elite with another. It must be measured by transparent appointments, independent investigations, impartial administration, constitutional restraint and the willingness to tolerate criticism.<\/p>\n

That test applies equally in Washington and Colombo. If Trump faces congressional investigations, those investigations must respect evidence and due process. If AKD promises accountability, investigations in Sri Lanka must apply the same standards to political allies and opponents. No leader should demand institutional independence when out of office and resent it upon entering government.<\/p>\n

The Ballot Box Has Spoken. What Comes Next?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

America’s midterm electorate has imposed a significant political correction. But an electoral defeat is not a criminal conviction, and a congressional majority is not a license for revenge. The Democrats must demonstrate that their victory can improve governance, address economic hardship and strengthen institutional accountability.<\/p>\n

Trump, meanwhile, remains president. His constitutional authority continues, though the legislative environment has changed dramatically. The real achievement of democratic institutions lies not in humiliating a particular leader but in ensuring that no leader can exercise public power without effective scrutiny.<\/p>\n

For Sri Lanka, the lesson is equally demanding. Neither ideological purity nor popular enthusiasm guarantees responsible government. What matters is whether political power is exercised as a public trust rather than treated as personal possession.<\/p>\n

A president may build monuments, command enormous crowds and dominate the headlines. Another may speak of reform, collective responsibility and a new political culture. Neither is entitled to exemption from scrutiny.<\/p>\n

The enduring measure of leadership is not how much power a politician acquires, but how faithfully that power remains answerable to the people.<\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

America has changed the balance of power through its ballot box.<\/p>\n

Whether it has also renewed its democratic conscience will be determined by what its leaders do next.<\/p>\n

*The writer can be reached at vishwamithra1984@gmail.com<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[…]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":241496,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_hide_featured_image":false,"_jetpack_featured_image_duplicate_dismissed":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,2186],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-249770","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-colombotelegraph","category-featured-news"],"yoast_head":"\nTrump, AKD & The Politics Of Power: Vanity Versus Conviction - Colombo Telegraph<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/trump-akd-the-politics-of-power-vanity-versus-conviction\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Trump, AKD & The Politics Of Power: Vanity Versus Conviction - Colombo Telegraph\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"[…]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/trump-akd-the-politics-of-power-vanity-versus-conviction\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Colombo Telegraph\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-11-05T20:11:33+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Anura-and-Trumph.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"353\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Vishwamithra\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Vishwamithra\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"8 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.colombotelegraph.com\\\/index.php\\\/trump-akd-the-politics-of-power-vanity-versus-conviction\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.colombotelegraph.com\\\/index.php\\\/trump-akd-the-politics-of-power-vanity-versus-conviction\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Vishwamithra\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.colombotelegraph.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/ca4aa88b49282c1bbb2303616a55ed1b\"},\"headline\":\"Trump, AKD & The Politics Of Power: Vanity Versus Conviction\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-11-05T20:11:33+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.colombotelegraph.com\\\/index.php\\\/trump-akd-the-politics-of-power-vanity-versus-conviction\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1707,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.colombotelegraph.com\\\/index.php\\\/trump-akd-the-politics-of-power-vanity-versus-conviction\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.colombotelegraph.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/Anura-and-Trumph.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Colombo Telegraph\",\"Featured News\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.colombotelegraph.com\\\/index.php\\\/trump-akd-the-politics-of-power-vanity-versus-conviction\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.colombotelegraph.com\\\/index.php\\\/trump-akd-the-politics-of-power-vanity-versus-conviction\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.colombotelegraph.com\\\/index.php\\\/trump-akd-the-politics-of-power-vanity-versus-conviction\\\/\",\"name\":\"Trump, AKD & The Politics Of Power: Vanity Versus Conviction - Colombo Telegraph\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.colombotelegraph.com\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.colombotelegraph.com\\\/index.php\\\/trump-akd-the-politics-of-power-vanity-versus-conviction\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.colombotelegraph.com\\\/index.php\\\/trump-akd-the-politics-of-power-vanity-versus-conviction\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.colombotelegraph.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/Anura-and-Trumph.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-11-05T20:11:33+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.colombotelegraph.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/ca4aa88b49282c1bbb2303616a55ed1b\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.colombotelegraph.com\\\/index.php\\\/trump-akd-the-politics-of-power-vanity-versus-conviction\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.colombotelegraph.com\\\/index.php\\\/trump-akd-the-politics-of-power-vanity-versus-conviction\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.colombotelegraph.com\\\/index.php\\\/trump-akd-the-politics-of-power-vanity-versus-conviction\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.colombotelegraph.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/Anura-and-Trumph.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.colombotelegraph.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/04\\\/Anura-and-Trumph.jpg\",\"width\":600,\"height\":353},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.colombotelegraph.com\\\/index.php\\\/trump-akd-the-politics-of-power-vanity-versus-conviction\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.colombotelegraph.com\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Trump, AKD & The Politics Of Power: Vanity Versus Conviction\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.colombotelegraph.com\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.colombotelegraph.com\\\/\",\"name\":\"Colombo Telegraph\",\"description\":\"In journalism truth is a process\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.colombotelegraph.com\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.colombotelegraph.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/ca4aa88b49282c1bbb2303616a55ed1b\",\"name\":\"Vishwamithra\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/ab53d292d6fa2a3527abf8c8ec803b1e7ec1f05b26a1d20ce12e42972fbfcf88?s=96&d=identicon&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/ab53d292d6fa2a3527abf8c8ec803b1e7ec1f05b26a1d20ce12e42972fbfcf88?s=96&d=identicon&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/ab53d292d6fa2a3527abf8c8ec803b1e7ec1f05b26a1d20ce12e42972fbfcf88?s=96&d=identicon&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Vishwamithra\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.colombotelegraph.com\\\/index.php\\\/author\\\/vishwamithra\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Trump, AKD & The Politics Of Power: Vanity Versus Conviction - Colombo Telegraph","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/trump-akd-the-politics-of-power-vanity-versus-conviction\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Trump, AKD & The Politics Of Power: Vanity Versus Conviction - Colombo Telegraph","og_description":"[…]","og_url":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/trump-akd-the-politics-of-power-vanity-versus-conviction\/","og_site_name":"Colombo Telegraph","article_published_time":"2026-11-05T20:11:33+00:00","og_image":[{"width":600,"height":353,"url":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Anura-and-Trumph.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Vishwamithra","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Vishwamithra","Est. reading time":"8 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/trump-akd-the-politics-of-power-vanity-versus-conviction\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/trump-akd-the-politics-of-power-vanity-versus-conviction\/"},"author":{"name":"Vishwamithra","@id":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/#\/schema\/person\/ca4aa88b49282c1bbb2303616a55ed1b"},"headline":"Trump, AKD & The Politics Of Power: Vanity Versus Conviction","datePublished":"2026-11-05T20:11:33+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/trump-akd-the-politics-of-power-vanity-versus-conviction\/"},"wordCount":1707,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/trump-akd-the-politics-of-power-vanity-versus-conviction\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Anura-and-Trumph.jpg","articleSection":["Colombo Telegraph","Featured News"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/trump-akd-the-politics-of-power-vanity-versus-conviction\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/trump-akd-the-politics-of-power-vanity-versus-conviction\/","url":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/trump-akd-the-politics-of-power-vanity-versus-conviction\/","name":"Trump, AKD & The Politics Of Power: Vanity Versus Conviction - Colombo Telegraph","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/trump-akd-the-politics-of-power-vanity-versus-conviction\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/trump-akd-the-politics-of-power-vanity-versus-conviction\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Anura-and-Trumph.jpg","datePublished":"2026-11-05T20:11:33+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/#\/schema\/person\/ca4aa88b49282c1bbb2303616a55ed1b"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/trump-akd-the-politics-of-power-vanity-versus-conviction\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/trump-akd-the-politics-of-power-vanity-versus-conviction\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/trump-akd-the-politics-of-power-vanity-versus-conviction\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Anura-and-Trumph.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Anura-and-Trumph.jpg","width":600,"height":353},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/trump-akd-the-politics-of-power-vanity-versus-conviction\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Trump, AKD & The Politics Of Power: Vanity Versus Conviction"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/","name":"Colombo Telegraph","description":"In journalism truth is a process","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/#\/schema\/person\/ca4aa88b49282c1bbb2303616a55ed1b","name":"Vishwamithra","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ab53d292d6fa2a3527abf8c8ec803b1e7ec1f05b26a1d20ce12e42972fbfcf88?s=96&d=identicon&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ab53d292d6fa2a3527abf8c8ec803b1e7ec1f05b26a1d20ce12e42972fbfcf88?s=96&d=identicon&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ab53d292d6fa2a3527abf8c8ec803b1e7ec1f05b26a1d20ce12e42972fbfcf88?s=96&d=identicon&r=g","caption":"Vishwamithra"},"url":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/author\/vishwamithra\/"}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/Anura-and-Trumph.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/249770","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=249770"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/249770\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":249775,"href":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/249770\/revisions\/249775"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/241496"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=249770"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=249770"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=249770"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}