The article discusses the surprising trend of Donald Trump modeling aspects of his presidency and residences after Louis XIV, the Sun King. It highlights how Trump has attempted to recreate the opulence and grandeur of Versailles, with specific references to the White House and Mar-a-Lago. Critics, including a New York Times essay, have noted the excessive and garish nature of this style, contrasting it with America's historical anti-royalist sentiments. The author reflects on their academic experience with Louis XIV's legacy and the implications of such presidential aesthetics.
In my 30 years of studying the literature and culture of Louis XIV, I never thought I would see an American president actually model himself on the Sun King.
It's less well known that the ghosts of Versailles also haunt Mar-a-Lago, where Trump ditched the Spanish theme and chose instead to mimic the Sun King's Hall of Mirrors.
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