That’s the defining aspect of the Emperor in the story of the New Clothes — that he’s so convinced of the story of his own finery that he proudly parades it around for all to see.
When Zelenskyy appeared in Washington this month, we might have also have been reminded of how his visit to the White House was something he’s been seeking for some time. His request to Trump for a visit in 2019 led Trump to make some demands of his own — which through an impeachment trial unmasked the former president as a street-level grifter using the presidency as a political extortion racket.
Zelenskyy, it appears, has been calling our attention to the nakedness of these figures for some time. It’s just this year, the power of his own principles and resolve — truly glorious robes for a leader to wear — stood in ever starker contrast.
Elon and SBF suck, Zelenskyy great....