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
Genuinely. They believe themselves above everyone in terms of intelligence, cunning, deception, strength, what have you. They literally believe they’re in the position they are because everyone else is just a mindless NPC