[Former acting president] Donald Trump’s abuse of copyrighted music in the face of artists’ repeated protestations seems consistent with the character of someone under allegation of sexual assault and rape: he goes ahead and does it even when you say you don’t want him to.
Though far less serious, using copyrighted material against the express wish of the copyright owner is out of the same stable as grabbing people by their genitals – without their consent. This is not to mention all the other violations he is on record committing or is accused of.
Columnist Aditya Chakrabortty also makes a similar observation on character in a Guardian piece on the sleaze surrounding Boris Johnson, a prime minister no less. Quoting F Scott Fitzgerald, Chakrabortty notes that “actions are character”.