The Bunker – News without the nonsense The original Trump? How Charles Fox invented personality politics
Dec 11, 2025
Dr. Callum Smith, a historian from Aberystwyth University, dives into the life of Charles James Fox, the 18th-century aristocrat who reshaped politics with his charisma and theatrics. Smith highlights how Fox's extravagant image and approach to faction-building laid the groundwork for modern political celebrity. The discussion unfolds around Fox's progressive values, controversial scandals, and the role of satire in shaping public perception. Ultimately, they explore the lessons Fox's legacy offers for contemporary figures like Trump, and whether personality politics will endure.
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Fox As The Prototype Of Personality Politics
- Charles James Fox pioneered personality-driven politics long before modern figures like Trump or Farage.
- His charisma and scandals reshaped leadership into a personal brand that outlived specific policies.
Tankards, Caricatures, And The Everyman Image
- Fox cultivated a public everyman image despite aristocratic origins and was often depicted with a tankard of ale.
- Many of these images were hostile satires that paradoxically bolstered his popular appeal in Westminster.
Faction Over Ideology
- Fox's faction was more about loyalty to his personality than strict adherence to Whig ideology.
- Political labels like Whig and Tory were porous; Fox's followers formed identity around him personally.
