I mean, they must know how much the public mocks them, right? What are the odds they’re actively trying to make everything worse as a Jokerfied “I’m taking the whole world out with me.” kind of thing?
Just a random tin foil hat thought, don’t take this too seriously
I prefer to credit their ineptitude more than their malice.
Sure, they will be petty tyrants and try to hurt those who have slighted them or aren’t “respecting” them but the level of global destruction they are responsible for is just as likely a function of ineptitude and inertia.