Trump is actually Berlusconi in a wig
That's a comparison I have actually made many times talking with other people here in Italy.
Billionaire with no actual political experience before becoming head of government? Check
Media tycoon, made money through the real estate business - with shady affairs involved? Check
Notorious womanizer? Check
Gaffeur but "tells it like it is"? Check
Involved in a slew of lawsuits and/or criminal investigations? Check
Inspires deep hatred among opponents and loyalty (some would say "cult of personality") among supporters? Check
Said loyalty has been given a name and gotten treated as if it was an ideology (
berlusconismo; Trumpism)? Check
Strongman tendencies? Check
Troubled relationship with the press, in his political career has constantly accused the mainstream media / public television of being partisan against him? Check
A big selling point was "draining the swamp" / "going beyond old politics" / outsider image? Check
Not saying that there aren't obvious differences too (for one, Trump didn't found a new party, and the historical circumstances when he came down the elevator were very different than those when Berlusconi "entered the field") but the comparison works well.
