Trump's dictionary

This August, I haven't been able to rest due to the executive incontinence of the US president. I've tried to find a strategic meaning in his decisions, but I still haven't succeeded. But I have detected a pattern in how he approaches his negotiations to reach trade or political agreements. His art of the deal . I'll summarize it with a few key terms and their dictionary definitions.

Threaten : To imply through actions or words that you intend to harm someone. This has been the strategy with the European Union. In August, we learned the details of the trade agreement the Union was forced to sign due to its military vulnerability to Russia.

Pattern Threats, coercion, denigration, extortion, harassment, or intimidation are part of Donald Trump's 'art of the deal'.

Bravado : An arrogant threat uttered to intimidate someone. This is what happened with Apple. The company announced investment commitments worth $600 billion, after receiving a warning from Trump last May.

Coercion : Pressure exerted on someone to force their will or behavior. A recent example is that of Lisa Cook, one of the seven members of the Fed's board. Trump is demanding her resignation, citing irregular behavior, in order to increase the influence of his supporters on the board.

Demean : To insult someone's opinion or reputation. Who doesn't remember President Zelensky's visit to the White House in February? That disgrace was followed by an unequal agreement granting the US access to rare earths in Ukraine on very favorable terms.

Extortion : Pressure exerted on someone through threats to force them to act in a certain way and thereby obtain money or another benefit. This has occurred with some law firms that had defended Trump's political enemies and with universities whose political stances opposed the president's plans.

Harass : To persistently annoy or mock someone. This has been the technique Trump has used with Fed Chairman Jerome Powell, whom he accuses of not lowering interest rates and whom he harasses by attacking his management, even on internal issues such as the cost of building renovations.

Intimidate : To cause or instill fear. This strategy was followed in the case of Intel, whose CEO Trump demanded the resignation in early August, only to sign, before the end of the month, an agreement under which the government would acquire a significant portion of the company's capital.

Provoke : To seek an angry reaction from someone by irritating them with words or actions. As has happened in Denmark's relationship with Greenland.

The Trump dictionary could go on, but the point is already clear. Trump is sometimes referred to as a businessman. Nothing could be further from the truth. Not because of what he says and does, nor because of the values ​​that underlie this way of acting.