Trump’s genius is on full-display. Having redefined the President’s job description, he’s on his way to the white-house, I reckon.
Let me ask you two questions.
- Do you think we should recognise Donald Trump as a saint? Do you think we should recognise him as one of the rare examples of human beauty and purity, and open churches all over the place in honour of St Don?
- If you were negotiating a major deal, like a large property development, potentially worth millions of dollars, would you want Donald Trump on your negotiation team?
If you’re like most people, you probably have very clear answers to both of these questions. I’m a big fan of the Donald, but even I don’t think he’s a saint. I’m sure he has a whole bunch of flaws and failings. Some of them we know about, some of them we don’t.
However, if I were negotiating a million-dollar deal – to purchase a large site for development – then I would definitely want the Donald on my team. If you don’t think you could use his skills and experience driving deals, then you either have an overly-inflated sense of your own negotiation skills, or you’re just plain crazy.
So there’s a big difference between these two questions, and it’s this difference I think that explains why no one in the American media can understand why Trump could be so popular.
Most people in the media are asking the first question. They look at Donald Trump and they see bullish man with a loud mouth and crass displays of wealth and power. In their minds they’re comparing him to some ideal president – some cross between George Clooney and Obi Wan Kenobi.
On that measure, Trump comes up short. He’s no saint. Most people aren’t even sure if he’s a nice guy.
But he’s not running for the job of ‘saint’. He’s running for the job of president. And what’s the key skill a President needs?
Negotiation.
Not that most people would have really pointed to that before, but this is the genius of Trump. He has been steadily defining the Presidency as “Negotiator in Chief”.
The TPP – it’s just a bad deal. Obamacare – just a bad deal. The Iran Nuclear deal – another bad deal.
In the Trump narrative, American is falling from greatness because we have a bunch of incompetent people in charge of the negotiations.
“We’re bad negotiatiors.” He actually said that.
And I think most people recognise that the great political challenges in the US involve negotiations. Gun control, immigration, trade, war – if there was any common-ground solution to any of these problems they would have found it by now.
But instead there are irreconcilable camps set up along well-defined battle lines. To get progress on any of these issues will require a master negotiator.
Trump is a master negotiator.
And so Trump is bringing the fight on to his own turf. No matter what you think of Trump, even if you hate him, you probably have no doubt he drives a hard bargain, and is in the habit of getting what he wants.
You want that guy on your side when it comes time to sit down with the NRA, Iran, ISIS or whoever.
The other genius move involved in framing it that way, is that it doesn’t really matter what his policy platform is.
What’s he going to do with Mexico, or the Middle East? It doesn’t matter. All he’s asking is for you to give him a seat at the table, and he’ll sort out some deal that “Makes America Great Again.”
He’s not selling you solutions. He’s not selling a set of policies. He’s selling himself. “Give me a chance and I’ll get it sorted.”
And people believe him.
And this is why Trump’s popularity is so confusing. While the media are looking at question 1, the public are looking at question 2. And it’s a no-brainer.
Trump all the way.
And the more he brings the debate around to question 2, the more pathetic his rivals look.
Because if you’ve got someone negotiating on your behalf, you want to make sure they’ve got your interests at heart.
When Trump says he wants to “Make America Great” – people believe that is what he wants, and it’s something people connect with.
(It helps that it’s vague enough that everyone can overlay their own definition of ‘great’ on to it.)
But for professional politicians – people who have spent their whole lives in the political machine – their interests are complex web of money, power and vested interests.
I think people are recognising that in the US (and in Australia!) it’s a systemic problem. It’s not that the politicians are bad people. It’s just that the only way to survive for any length of time – and especially if you want to rise to the top – the only way to do that is to whore out your values and ideals and the people who vote for you.
The system’s corrupt.
But Trump is a self-made man. His interests are his own. That might involve some interpretation of narcissism, but as long as it involves being recognised for doing a great job as president, it doesn’t matter.
And so I think the Trump presidency will bring a big economic dividend for America. Regardless of whether people like him or not, having a master negotiation in the chair will be perceived as a massive benefit for the economy.
That may or may not be true (it probably is) but it doesn’t matter. A wide-spread confidence is self-fulfilling.
And it will come just as the last bugs of the GFC are being wiped from the windshield. Timing and confidence will combine to bring in a new golden age for the US (at least economically).
From here to 2020, it will be sunny days.
I’m bullish on the US outlook already. But add in President Trump and it’s boom time.
And the media will never understand it.
Has Trump got the skills to be President? Will it be good for America? Will it be good for us?
Kare says
WOW!! Jon, you’ve articulated exactly my own (up til now) 2 minds about Trump (and Turnbull for that matter). Perfectly articulated and explained. Don’t like either of them very much. But that’s not the point. Somewhere deep down I feel they’ll pull things off – things that matter to all of us. They both seem to relish wading in to the wicked problems and coming out the other side with a workable solution. At least that’s how they appear right now. Or whether their egos will just get in the way. (Look at what happened to Kevin 07.) Time will tell. In the meantime, thanks for your penetrating insights. Thoroughly enjoy my weekly dose of no BS.
Tom says
Kare, Hear! Hear!
Could DT’s influence be any worse than the devastating Bush debacles?
Also, as Jon says, our own political system has been corrupted by vested interests and professional political number-counters. Add to that a complicit media clique.
Kevin and Tony were both magnificent “Leaders of the Opposition”, but turned out to be hopeless leaders in Government. Both lacked any real plans for the future well-being of the Nation. They both got to power by invoking negativity; but that is the last thing required in Government, when trying to lead the people forward; and neither could adapt.
The Coalition have inadvertently hit upon the ideal system – start with the ‘most efficient ever’ Leader Of The Opposition, then switch to a pragmatic Prime Minister who has the plans and negotiating skills to “Advance Australia Fair”.
The recent comment on Q&A (ABC) echoed my long-held sentiments entirely – Turnbull and Australia would both be better off with Malcolm as leader of a Labour/Greens Coalition. He would have the support to be able to realise his visions for the Nation and Australia would SING!!!
I believe that many who have been Labour supporters will be quite pleased to to see Malcolm ‘out-Labour’ the Labour Party – but he will always have the white-anting by the ultra-right to contend with. With a quasi-religious fervor, they specialise in concentrating wealth & power in the hands of a social elite, the ‘entitled’. Fortunately, Malcolm, while being one of that ‘elite’, is very philanthropic in his social awareness.
jota6689 says
A dickhead is a always a dickhead and wealth only makes you a rich dickhead.
Indy says
Like wise Kare. No BS Friday is like waiting for Ginger Megs in the comics once a week (that was in yesteryear to those who aren’t familiar with comics let alone Ginger Meggs) Yeah, we all seem to be on the recieving end of doomsday sermons, oh me oh my, we’re all stuffed, especially thru the media. Good news just doesn’t make money. When you look at the behind the scenes stuff, the inventions that we come up with, the miracle medical stuff we come up with, those annonymous good people that give other people a hand up, all end up lost in the middle pages of the newspaper. We are being downplayed all the time. Take the media out, scrap ACA, switch off 2GB and I think our mindset will move into positive. The world really ain’t a bad place. Those bad people are usually in bad places doing their own thing. Do we really go into those places to do the right thing or is it because they have something there that we need, and that becomes a justification. We should rejoice that we are living in Australia. We have everything here. Yes we are adjusting to a newer sort of nature but aren’t we smart enough to cope with this and work around it. Why can’t we build desal units all around Oz and pump water to where ever it needs to be. Why don’t we put up solar farms in the right areas. Do we need to have all of those overseas mining companies rapeing our land. The nuts and bolts of our society get overlooked and we are steered into thinking that stuff from overseas is more important than our own backyard. Yes, we do need a good negotiator to fix US up first, then lets go out and help others.
Glenn Jackson says
The best weapon in any fight or negotiation is your mouth & brain. The best deals are done when there is a little bit of fat in the deal for both parties. The trouble with politicians doing contracts with private enterprise is :
1) It is not their money they are playing with.
2) They are only trying to buy votes to remain in power.
3) The majority have never run a business.
4) As a result the majority of government contracts are weighted severely in the private sectors favor , wasting tax payers money.
The trouble is that most business men are quite ruthless, however a government still needs to look after the disadvantaged in the society & relocate funds where they are most needed. This in itself leaves the government open to the scammers who look for loopholes in the system to advantage themselves. Better negotiators/business men would tighten these loop holes up. The better negotiators will always go to private industry as the pay is always better than government. With Turnbull & Trump they are already self made entrepreneurs, so it will be interesting to watch them bring their negotiating skills on the side of government whilst maintaining a neutrality with their business interests.
Both men are driven now by the greatest urge in the world, the urge to be important, which they say is even stronger than the sex urge.
Murray McLeod says
I’m with Glenn Jackson. Too many self serving politicians swanning around making sure they stay in a job by trying to please everyone. No action means no progress. DT will make it happen You don’t have to like him.
ron says
i jon..great article..but i wonder if america will survive the last 14 months of obama? this ‘man’ has encouraged islam in many ways…supporting isis, militarising his police force and other unspeakable things. .(importing known terrorists into usa). i think the nato members should encourage ousting obama right now or dt will have nothing to preside over..how is he gonna get rid of over US$18+ trillion debt….the fed is bankrupt..and this will show very very soon. its almost a ‘laydown misaire’ that the fed will crumble anytime soon…as they say. 🙂 if, sorry, when this happens i hope everyone here has his/her house in order. fortunes will be made of course by the smart people, for the 99.99% it will be 1929 all over again. ..the only bright light is china…yes our friends over there..via the imf(soon to be the overseer of sdr s.) its a small club which prints money for any deserving country staring bankruptcy in the face. imf has no assets..just the ok to print…nice. china will be admitted in the next few months or sooner. meanwhile our mate putin is still seething over the shootdown of his areoplane. the truth is it was not in turkey territory at all. putin knows this so maybe we see roast turkey before xmas. no kidding..france has already aligned itself with russia to fight terrorism (‘cos the americans flew hundreds of sorties over syria with out dropping a single bomb..they returned home fully laden. russia went in and in 3 days spreadeagled the whole isis mob. they, the russians, were very serious. isis is now just a bad memory..it has been blown to the four winds. just ask the western media. hmm..no don’t ..they still think isis is a threat..dummies!. and more serious for america, and us, is the persistance of the derivitive debt in the world..now over US$800 trillion and counting. how can we survive with all this b.s. going on?..anyway there is a new world coming up..floodlit by Si..yes folks rock up and see the new miracle energy..guaranteed to send the oil companies broke along with the coal miners and gas people. all of these utilities will not exist in 2 years. from now..energy for everything will be el cheapo!. its to do with solar power…produced so efficiently it will need over 3 billion units to satisfy world demand…many countries are piling in with untold milliions, warren buffet, bill gates, DT himself, are pouring in huge amounts to paladin industries. (in america of course) who just sold over US$800,000,000 worth of units locally in two days!! so you see dt has to get rid of obama..or he might lose his shirt ha ha..see you soon..and for goodness sake lets close up an ANY refugees from anywhere. according to reports only 20% of these refugees heading for europe..are from syria…the rest are from lebanon, turky and palestine. the turkish government has, since september issued over 100,000 false passports to ‘refugees’ moving into europe. our mate putin knows this ..now he is very upset over his plane. so beware of an angry bear. his alliance with china (over 3,500 chinese troops have cleaned up most of the isis resistance) and iran and now france (apparently mr hollande is sick of american b.s. and has offered russia a joint venture in cleaning up isis). what next..a third world war?..yes..thank you mr. obama that is his master plan..islamicise america and start a third world war. you see when a world is in financial trouble the pollies don’t want to take the blame..so they send young men off to war..to sort divert attention from their stupid mistakes. i am staying home thank you!
Tom says
It is the promotion of unfounded twaddle like this which is the biggest threat to our national security. Such bias and half-truths, on any side of any discussion, are more dangerous to the nation than a misguided idiot with an AK47. Those who incite division, while using false premises for their arguments and belief systems are worse than the misguided suicide bombers whom they motivate and groom.
brett smith says
Finally an analysis of the situation that is nothing but the truth, and def no BS in any of what you said, love ya work Ron.?
Like the provocative article Jon?
Chris says
A common refrain in England during the time of Hitler’s rise in the 30s was that “well ‘e makes the trains run on time, you can say that for ‘im”. The same kind of shallow, short-term commentary follows Trump. “He’ll make America great again”. Sounds too much like the simple, herd-like refrain of “Deutschland, über alles”. Make no mistake, Trump is a dangerous, ignorant, opportunistic fascist. Imagine Nazi Germany with nuclear weapons. That’s what’s coming if the Republicans win with Trump.
Lauren says
Amen brother!!!!! My thoughts put in a wonderfully communicated post!
pisces says
Psycopathic behaviour, showing contempt and disregard for others is never a good thing in anyone and particularly not in someone in such a position of power. Those that suffer ASPD (anti-social personality disorder, aka socopaths, psychopaths) work for #1 and couldn’t care who they hurt, maim or kill on the way, as long as they get their power and control (and buckets of money) at absolutely any cost.
john Thirgood says
He is a Trumped up Asshole. do not confuse boldness and financial power with good governance.
diplomacy with resoluteness seems better to me.
Talking tough with blind naive power is simply endangering world stability and progress.
Hilary seems the only stable choice available and I think the world would be lucky to see her succeed.
Antichrist says
A Trumped up Psychopathic dickhead…is what DT is, represents and who he will cater for. Skills..huh! Research some of his supposed business decisions..look at what he has done and how he has treated his people when the numbers “don’t crunch”. The man is appalling…and an insult to true democratic ideals. He preys on the weak..despises the poor, ignores and even denies inequities existence, and his nose is so far in the capital trough its amazing we can here him squeal. It doesn’t surprise me that Jon enjoys his shallow ill thought out “build a wall” dribble, he is after all just another developer with a similar disposition towards right and wrong..good and bad.. This man DT is the epitome of what the world does not need right now..especially as the mighty USA faces its greatest existential crisis. And John Thirgood…have you looked at Bernie Sanders…i feel the man has far more legitimacy, feeling, compassion, understanding, credentials, and soul, than what Hilary Clinton, and all her uptown cronies monies represent. Whilst he has basically no chance and Hilary is a shoe in for the Democratic nominee, (Sanders is really only there to give the voting public the perception they have choice..yeah right!)..i feel that America will also sadly miss out on a truly good leader when Hilary gets in. Still..anything is better than Trump.
Ester says
I’m with Jon on this one. Trump may say a lot of ‘wrong’ things but the challenge with today’s politicians is that they’re too politically correct – this paralyses and influences their thinking. Trump’s not scared of being made to look like a fool. It’s all an act. He knows what he can do. The US has dug itself into a deep hole. Rocking the boat may upset the masses but it also recharges people’s thinking. It stirs the pot along with the emotions. It’s what America needs, to start thinking about what’s important again. I live on the other side of the planet and for years we were under the illusion that America was the greatest country on earth and that THAT was where everyone wanted to be. But the last few years have really taken the shine off, and we are now seeing a country that once used to be the envy of the world brought to its knees. If you are passionate about your country, come polling day get out there and vote. Not only is it your right, it is your obligation!!!
Sowrabh Behl says
Can someone tell me why australians care about what americans do?
Thethinkologists says
Sorry but I think Trump has not been able to demonstrate he has such fantastic people skills to make a great negotiator. He has demonstrated to be a misogynist and a racist and someone with those attributes might be an excellent businessman but won’t make a good STATESMAN!!!