TRUMP IS NO NEGOTIATOR

The Art of Negotiation: A Concept Lost on Trump

Negotiation is a delicate dance of power, patience, and strategy. Any skilled negotiator understands that the side with the stronger position never makes the first move. Power is preserved by waiting for the weaker party to initiate, forcing them to concede before the discussion even begins. Yet, Donald Trump, a self-proclaimed master of "The Art of the Deal," consistently violates this fundamental rule, proving once again that his book and entire approach to negotiation is nothing more than a con.

His latest blunder? He is attempting to insert himself into the Ukraine-Russia conflict with reckless promises that undercut American strength. He openly declares that he can end the war in 24 hours, yet the very foundation of any successful negotiation requires that the weaker party, Russia, in this case, make the first move. By preemptively offering incentives or concessions, Trump eliminates the possibility of real negotiation before it even begins.

The Fatal Mistake: Giving Away Power Upfront

One key principle in negotiation is never to surrender leverage before talks begin. If you hold a position of strength, you aim to extract concessions from the other party. You apply pressure, impose conditions, and clarify that they must act first if they want a resolution. Trump, however, does the opposite. He openly signals that he will give up Ukraine’s defense and support in exchange for nothing.

This is not a negotiation strategy. This is capitulation.

If Trump had genuinely understood the art of negotiation, he would have realized that the U.S. and its allies held the dominant position in this conflict. Russia is militarily strained, diplomatically isolated, and economically weakened by sanctions. The correct strategy would be to tighten the screws until Russia is forced to make the first move, signaling that they are ready to negotiate on Western terms. Instead, Trump signals weakness by saying to Putin that he doesn’t need to make a move because he will give him what he wants anyway.

Negotiation Requires Patience—Which Trump Lacks

Patience is the backbone of high-stakes negotiation. The party that can wait the longest typically wins. The stronger side doesn’t rush into talks, forcing the weaker side to sweat it out. However, Trump, impulsive and desperate for attention, does not have the patience to execute a real strategy.

His eagerness to “make a deal” is rooted not in strategy but in his need for spectacle and self-aggrandizement. He doesn’t care about securing the best possible outcome; he only cares about appearing to be the hero, even if the deal he makes is an outright disaster for the United States and its allies.

Real Negotiation Requires Incentives—Not Bluster

Negotiation involves incentivizing the weaker party to act first. This does not mean surrendering ground; it means creating a situation where the other side sees an opportunity to make the first move. Trump’s approach ignores this. He offers concessions upfront without extracting anything, paying Russia to accept its victory.

A real statesman would understand that negotiation is only possible in a war like this when the aggressor, Russia, recognizes its position is unsustainable. That recognition must be forced through economic, military, and diplomatic pressure. Yet Trump, blinded by his ego, skips the entire process and tries to negotiate from a position of self-imposed weakness.

The Reality: Trump’s ‘Art of the Deal’ Is a Sham

Trump’s actions reveal what many have long suspected: he is no master negotiator. His so-called expertise is a fabrication, a flimsy sales pitch designed to convince people that he understands deal-making when, in reality, his instincts are catastrophically flawed. He lacks patience, strategy, and the ability to recognize when to act and when to hold firm.

If Trump were put in charge of the Ukraine-Russia negotiations, the outcome would be predetermined: Russia would get precisely what it wants, and America would walk away humiliated. That is not the art of negotiation; that is the art of surrender.

The question is: will the American people recognize this before it’s too late?

William James Spriggs