Unconventional Entry into Politics: Wealth and Lack of Proper Experience

Both Donald Trump and Pablo Escobar exemplify figures who entered the political sphere without conventional pathways or requisite political experience, leveraging their substantial wealth and notoriety instead of rising through traditional public service or military careers. Donald Trump became the only American president to have no prior political or military service before ascending to the highest office, coming directly from a highly publicized business background and using his vast resources as both a shield against typical political pressures and as a campaign centerpiece. Similarly, Pablo Escobar, despite originating from a modest background, amassed extraordinary wealth through his criminal enterprise and used this fortune to support his entry into Colombian politics, obtaining a seat in Congress without prior political involvement by capitalizing on both his financial power and strategic philanthropy. This shared trajectory illustrates a bypassing of normative democratic vetting and career-building, replacing it with the mobilization of wealth and personal influence to secure political standing.

Violation of Human Rights: Overview

Both Trump and Escobar have been widely associated with documented violations of human rights, manifesting in behaviors, policies, and actions that run counter to the foundational principles of equality and non-discrimination enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Their actions demonstrate a disregard for equal treatment and, consequently, for the legal and moral standards set forth by international human rights law.

Donald Trump: Human Rights Violations and Disregard for Equality

Donald Trump’s tenure as U.S. president has been marked by a series of executive actions and policies that directly undermine principles of equality and non-discrimination. For example, his administration’s "zero tolerance" immigration policy resulted in the mass separation of migrant families at the U.S. border, a practice condemned as inhumane and discriminatory, violating Articles 1, 2, and 7 of the UDHR, which guarantee freedom and equality for all people without discrimination. The policies disproportionately affected Latin American migrants, with documented cases of children being forcibly separated from their parents and subject to mistreatment, including denial of legal protections and, in some instances, being detained under poor conditions.

Further, the Trump administration implemented travel bans targeting individuals from predominantly Muslim countries, overtly discriminating on the basis of national origin and religion and contravening the universal nondiscrimination standard of Article 2. The exclusionary nature of these bans was recognized by courts and human rights organizations as a violation of equal treatment before the law, contributing to increased marginalization of Muslim communities.

Trump’s domestic actions also included attempts to roll back existing protections for LGBTQ+ individuals, such as arguing against their protection from workplace discrimination, and rescinding federal guidelines that affirmed the rights of transgender students to access public school facilities matching their gender identity. These moves reflect a pattern of policymaking that targets marginalized groups, effectively treating them as less deserving of equal rights and recognition, thus failing the requirements of Articles 1, 2, and 7 of the UDHR.

Moreover, the Trump administration frequently attempted to restrict reproductive rights, including limiting access to reproductive healthcare for women, rolling back funding for services, and reinstating global policies that detrimentally affect women’s health and autonomy worldwide. These measures particularly impact the most vulnerable populations, further entrenching inequalities and violating the principles of equal dignity and rights for all.

Racial and ethnic minorities within the U.S. also experienced direct or indirect violations of their rights, as seen in the administration’s relaxed oversight and enforcement of anti-discrimination protections, as well as restrictive voting ID laws and weakened civil rights investigations. This broad spectrum of discriminatory policies and executive actions reflects not only a failure to uphold the spirit and letter of the UDHR, but also a governance approach that normalizes unequal treatment under the guise of nationalism or security.

Pablo Escobar: Human Rights Violations and Disregard for Equality

Pablo Escobar’s infamous leadership of the Medellín Cartel was inextricably linked to systemic and violent violations of human rights, with actions that explicitly disregarded the right to life, liberty, security, and equal protection. Escobar orchestrated and financed the assassination of government officials, political opponents, judges, journalists, and ordinary citizens, operating death squads and paramilitary groups that spread terror and enforced his criminal rule through extrajudicial killings, bombings, torture, and intimidations. Such violence constitutes egregious violations of Article 3 (right to life, liberty, and security of person), Article 7 (equality before the law), and Article 2 (nondiscrimination) of the UDHR.

His targeted campaigns against political enemies, as in the assassinations of justice minister Rodrigo Lara-Bonilla and presidential candidate Luis Carlos Galán, exemplify a broader contempt for equality and the rule of law, sending a chilling message that the lives of certain individuals, especially those in opposition, were disposable. These actions cultivated an environment of impunity, intimidation, and selective violence, wherein the equal rights to security, due process, and legal recourse were systematically undermined.

Escobar’s use of philanthropy to build schools, hospitals, and housing, despite winning loyalty among poorer segments of Colombian society, did not negate the simultaneous perpetration of mass violence and the perpetuation of inequality through criminal dominance. While some communities benefited from his largesse, countless others suffered from his orchestrated campaigns of terror, which were fundamentally incompatible with equal protection or recognition before the law.

The widespread corruption of state actors, bribery, and creation of paramilitary forces under Escobar’s leadership further consolidated a social order rooted in fear, favoritism, and coercion, rather than universal respect for human dignity or equality. The resulting state of violence and systemic discrimination, especially against those perceived as adversaries, stands as a direct violation of the UDHR’s obligations.

Demonstrating Disregard for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

In conclusion, both Donald Trump and Pablo Escobar share the trait of violating core principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights through national or criminal policies that manifestly discriminate, marginalize, and abuse targeted populations. Whether through state power or criminal violence, both figures perpetrated repeated acts of unequal and inhumane treatment, directly contravening Article 1 (all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights), Article 2 (all are entitled to rights without distinction of any kind), and Article 7 (equality before the law and equal protection without discrimination).

Their respective records reveal a pattern: the denial of fundamental rights and equal protection to those they viewed as "other," whether migrants, minorities, opponents, or entire communities. Such systemic disregard for equality and nondiscrimination, integral to the UDHR, serves as the basis by which both Trump and Escobar stand as examples of prominent individuals who, through their actions and legacies, have failed to respect the most fundamental tenets of universal human rights.