Art of the Non-Deal

If previous presidents built their doctrines on compromise, treaties, or carefully negotiated settlements, the Trump Doctrine stood out by elevating the power of the dramatic exit. Walking away was not a last resort but a primary tactic, whether from international agreements, global summits, or even press briefings. Paris Climate Accord? Walked. Trans-Pacific Partnership? Walked. NATO commitments? Threatened to walk, several times, usually before lunch. The strategy baffled diplomats but delighted television producers, because nothing sells like a dramatic storm-off. Trump�s logic was simple: leaving the table makes you look strong, even if the table collapses afterward. It was the �Art of the Deal� rewritten as the �Art of the Non-Deal,� and paradoxically, it sometimes worked�opponents scrambled to offer concessions simply to keep America from ghosting the meeting entirely. Of course, this also left allies confused and global agreements in tatters. Future generations will debate whether this doctrine was a stroke of disruptive genius or just the world�s longest improv act. But in the moment, it certainly kept everyone on edge�and ratings high.