Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump admitted he thinks of himself as the lead character in Russian-born author Ayn Rand’s 1943 book The Fountainhead, the GOP front-runner said in an interview that ran Monday.
The New York real estate developer told interviewer Kirsten Powers he most identified with protagonist Howard Roark, an architect who designs skyscrapers and envisions himself as a man who fights the establishment.
“[The Fountainhead] relates to business, beauty, life and inner emotions. That book relates to … everything,” Trump said.
Trump has repeatedly called himself the outsider in the race since announcing his campaign 10 months ago from his Manhattan skyscraper home. His non-politician status is one of the reasons conservatives have said they support him over rivals Texas Sen. Ted Cruz or Ohio Gov. John Kasich.
Powers asked Trump if he was aware that The Fountainhead intentionally called out the tyranny of groupthink. Trump said he was and explained that was the reason for “what is happening here” and why millions of supporters have jumped on the Trump train.
