Opinion: the populist politics of Joseph Chamberlain and Donald Trump

Historian feature

By Chris Godden, published 14th November 2025

Echoes of economic nationalism: the populist politics of Joseph Chamberlain and Donald Trump

What are the pitfalls and pluses of comparing historical figures with contemporary politicians? Chris Godden argues that recent comparisons of Donald Trump with one of his predecessors may be wide of the mark, but that a more illuminating parallel may be found with one of Britain’s most controversial nineteenth-century politicians.

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