
Nearly eight years ago, reports began circulating in Washington that the Trump administration would be chaotic. One clear sign was – Rapid movement of aides close to the president. within months, Trump replaced his chief of staffNational Security Advisor, press secretary And advisor to the president. Ultimately, over a four-year period, Trump will go through four chiefs of staff, four national security advisers, four press secretaries, and five advisors to the president.
Beyond the rapid turnover, those who worked with Trump in his first term recounted his chaotic style of governance. He refused to read briefing books before meeting with government leaders and simply contented himself with important negotiations. He only read one-page summaries, and even then, only if they were filled with maps, pictures, and diagrams. He ignored the advice of his advisors in favor of information (or misinformation) from Fox News and extremist social media posts. He made policy himself through tweets and not through consultations with others.
Aides, who requested anonymity for obvious reasons, recounted that Trump was spending Several hours a day to watch TVusually Fox News, and impulsively stormed out of meetings he was bored with. As a result, his style of governance oscillated between lack of interest and sudden intensity of activity. It was simply that he did not notice until he suddenly realized that the policy he did not like was being taken without him. For example, in 2018, he intervened at the last minute when a government shutdown was looming to insist that the continuing resolution include money needed to build a border wall with Mexico. An aide reported that Trump was An “instinctive and reactive” leader..
His aides revealed that his attention span was very short. They admitted that when he made some outrageous demands, they would distract him with something else, anticipating that he would forget the order he had just given. One journalist found that Trump was live-tweeting Fox News, setting his agenda based on what Fox News was reporting.
Political scientist David Drezner Analysis of statements by Trump’s aides and supporters Comparing him to a young child who throws tantrums when he doesn’t get what he wants, has a short attention span, and has no interest in learning if it is not presented in a very simple way. Drezner says his aides will treat Trump like a toddler by using reverse psychology on him (telling him he can’t do something they already want him to do), keeping him busy so he doesn’t have time to tweet, and feeding him trivial information.
Another trait identified by his aides is his massive insecurity. The oral briefings to which he paid the most attention were those in which his name was repeatedly mentioned. He was constantly in need of praise. The meetings were full of complements and reinforcements when media reports were critical. An aide explained that Trump did not want to hear any opposition to what he had already said publicly.
Trump’s defenders say his chaotic management style is designed to draw attention to dysfunction in government. But is it really intended to improve government? Or is it just a manifestation of Trump’s personality?
Those who know Trump best warned us several years ago what he was like. A large number of voters ignored their warning. So we must all prepare for another four years, not of government reform, but of dysfunction and confusion.
Richard Davis is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at Brigham Young University.
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