Esoteric Trumpism?

[ecosophia]

I was intrigued and a little bewildered the other day to field a note from a correspondent letting me know about a book that will be published early next year by the Traditionalist publishing house Arktos Press.  The title is Esoteric Trumpism, the author is Constantin von Hoffmeister, and this is the blurb:

"'Esoteric Trumpism' delves into the profound and often unexplored dimensions of Donald Trump’s political journey, presenting it as a pivotal moment in the grand narrative of Western civilization. Through the lens of Oswald Spengler’s cyclical theory of history, the book explores Trump as a Faustian figure, striving against the tide of decline, embodying the spirit of American exceptionalism and the fierce battle for national identity.

"Infused with a blend of Lovecraftian mystery and the barbaric glory of Robert E. Howard, 'Esoteric Trumpism' offers a unique, philosophically rich perspective on Trump’s era, blending biblical motifs, apocalyptic imagery, and historical parallels to frame his presidency as a critical turning point in the saga of the West. A scholarly and artistic analysis, styled in a poetic manner, it offers an intriguing exploration of Trump’s unconventional approach to leadership."

Hmm. I'm intrigued to note that it sounds remarkably like a certain other book on the esoteric dimensions of Donald Trump's ascent to power, which also has quite a bit to say about Oswald Spengler and a certain, shall we say, Lovecraftian quality about it...

Now it's quite possible that, though the blurb doesn't make this clear, von Hoffmeister's book is a response to my thesis from a Traditionalist standpoint. I'd welcome such a response, not least because (unlike too many of their opponents these days) Traditionalists are by and large historically and culturally literate and can reason from a premise to a conclusion. While I'm not a Traditionalist, or even particularly Traditionalist-adjacent, I consider the Traditionalist challenge to modernity worth thoughtful consideration and response. Thus I'd like to see what the Trads have to say about the points I raised in The King in Orange. (I'll be contacting them shortly to ask for a revlew copy.)

Of course there's a further dimension to all this, and to judge by his choice of title, von Hoffmeister knows this perfectly well. Those of my readers who know their way around the far right will be familiar with the Chilean diplomat and writer Miguel Serrano, who published a series of books focusing on his philosophy of Esoteric Hitlerism. In recent decades that's become a significant ideology on the fringes. If von Hoffmeister's suggesting a similar dimension to the Trump phenomenon, I'll want to see what he has to say about it -- and try to gauge where the current weirdness in US and world politics seems to be going...

Update 1/1/2024:

I've just heard from Constantin von Hoffmeister, who got my address via my email to his publisher. He wasn't aware of my book at all! His email was brief, so I don't know the details yet, but I gather he was simply struck by many of the same points I was. This is fascinating...