Sulla was considering a legend for generations to come. The Caesars used his popularity and claimed that they were following in his footsteps when they created the empire decades later.

Obviously the legend of someone like Sulla can be used by tyrants in the future, but it's important to know why Sulla was so popular. As you said, he cleared out the corrupt leaders who were making a mockery of the republic, and therefore did nothing short of saving Rome.

Edit: Sulla wrote his own epitaph to be inscribed on his tomb, "No friend ever served me, and no enemy ever wronged me, whom I have not repaid in full". I think Trump, and all of us, should take inspiration from that.

Sulla was considering a legend for generations to come. The Caesars used his popularity and claimed that they were following in his footsteps when they created the empire decades later.

Obviously the legend of someone like Sulla can be used by tyrants in the future, but it's important to know why Sulla was so popular. As you said, he cleared out the corrupt leaders who were making a mockery of the republic, and therefore did nothing short of saving Rome.