Noah Rothman on Trump's Susceptibility to Flattery and NATO Dynamics

Trump's Engagement Style

• 💡 Donald Trump is described as being susceptible to flattery and emotional manipulation, making deference a key strategy for engagement.
• 🎯 Acknowledging his successes is crucial, as questioning them is the quickest way to upset him.
• 🔑 Engaging with Trump requires understanding his personality, movement, and cause, with deference being a "best practice."

Iran Strikes and Media Reception

• 🚀 Trump insisted on the total obliteration of Iran's nuclear sites following US strikes, despite intelligence reports casting doubt on their effectiveness.
• ⚠️ He expressed significant anger towards media outlets that reported on these doubts, labeling outlets like CNN, MSNBC, and The New York Times as "scum."
• 📊 Republican base support for the strikes is high, with polls indicating strong approval among GOP voters, though the MAGA base may be more divided.

Intelligence Leaks and Shaping Narratives

• 🔍 There's a pattern of selective leaks from the intelligence community designed to impugn the president's motives and question the effectiveness of military operations.
• 🗣️ These leaks may aim to shape public and political debate, particularly concerning engagement in the Middle East.
• 📈 Despite initial doubts, analyses suggest the strikes were likely more successful than early reports indicated, given the scale of ordnance used.

Trump's Political Philosophy and Legacy

• 👑 Trump is seen as the definitive leader of the Republican movement, setting its terms and objectives, with the party generally falling in line.
• 🌍 World leaders at NATO, including the head of NATO himself, Mark Rutte, have used extraordinarily deferential language towards Trump.
• 🏆 Trump's primary guiding principle appears to be securing a legacy achievement, potentially including a Nobel Peace Prize, rather than adhering to a fixed ideological framework.
• 🧩 His approach is described as highly pragmatic, adapting his political philosophy to the specific circumstances and perceived opportunities, such as executing existing US policy regarding Iran's nuclear program.