To All Leaders Around the World: A Checklist for Dealing With Trump
1. Trump cares about nothing but his own ego. “But it can’t be all about that?” It IS all about his ego. “Does this make me look good? Does this make me feel powerful?”
2. Trump does not have any values or principles. He is not right-wing, isolationist or anything. Trump is “All About Me.”
3. Trump does not lie —according to him. You do.
4. Trump does not have any strategies. His redolent enablers have.
5. Trump lives in the moment. You gave him fuel, Macron and Starmer, but how long will it last? He needs flattery 24/7. And if you are not there to give it to him, he will draw it from any source he can find. Hint: The Kremlin.
6. Trump has no empathy. I am deeply sorry Mr. Zelensky, but he does not give a toss about starved prisoners of war.
7. Trump does not even care about America. It is “Me first” and “Make ME great forever.” Tariffs are for him. Canada and Greenland are for him. A mineral deal with Ukraine is for him.
8. Trump is always right—according to him. Reasoning with him is a waste of time.
9. Trump does not learn anything. He does not read, reflect or listen.
10. Trump knows very little. He snaps up some idea or phrase out of context and thinks it will make him look great. “Why don’t we nuke them [hurricanes]?”
11. Trump needs to win. Always. He will do anything to bring the message home that he is superior. If he cannot win here and now, he will come after you later.
12. Trump thrives on threats. It is his sweet weapon that often works.
Putin, Xi, Kim and all the other autocrats understand all of this. They have understood it for years. And they know how to use that knowledge to their advantage.
It is time for you to catch up.