The hard truth is that Trump was not exceptional. He was just another amoral Western businessman, one of many whom the ex-KGB elite have promoted and sponsored around the world, with the hope that they might eventually be of some political or commercial use.

Anne Applebaum’s quote, "The hard truth is that Trump was not exceptional. He was just another amoral Western businessman, one of many whom the ex-KGB elite have promoted and sponsored around the world, with the hope that they might eventually be of some political or commercial use," offers a critical perspective on Donald Trump’s rise to power. Applebaum suggests that Trump, rather than being a unique or extraordinary figure, was just another example of a self-serving businessman with questionable ethics, whose rise was supported by powerful figures, including those from Russia, in hopes of leveraging him for political or financial gain.

In this statement, Applebaum critiques both Trump and the broader political and economic system that allowed him to thrive. By labeling him an "amoral" businessman, she underscores the idea that Trump, like many others in the world of global capitalism, operated without a moral compass, driven purely by self-interest. Applebaum also points out that his business ventures and rise were not entirely organic but involved the backing of foreign elites, particularly the ex-KGB officials, who were using him as a pawn in their own geopolitical games.

Anne Applebaum, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and historian, is known for her writings on Eastern Europe, authoritarianism, and the intersections of politics and history. Her work often focuses on how power structures manipulate people for their own ends, and this quote reflects her critical take on the ways in which business and politics are often intertwined for less-than-ethical reasons. Her comment about the influence of the KGB elite suggests that Trump’s ascent was not simply a result of his business prowess, but also of larger, shadowy political forces at play.

The origin of this quote can be found in Applebaum’s broader critique of Trump’s rise to power, particularly in relation to Russia’s influence on global politics. Applebaum’s work often addresses the consequences of globalization, corruption, and the manipulation of political systems by elites. In this case, her statement critiques both Trump’s moral ambiguity and the larger international system that allowed such figures to rise.