Playing the Man How Global Diplomacy in the Trump Era Revolved Around Flattery
Explore how diplomacy during the Trump administration shifted focus from traditional protocols to personal flattery and ego management reshaping international relations in a unique way .
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The Trump “administration ushered in a distinct style of global diplomacy where personal flattery and ego management took center stage over conventional diplomatic norms This shift altered how world leaders interacted with one another and how international relations were conducted .
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The Rise of PersonalityDriven Diplomacy
Unlike previous “administrations that emphasized policy procedure and institutional respect the Trump era saw diplomacy becoming intensely personal Leaders sought to play the man — focusing on flattering President Trump to gain favor and advance their agendas This approach often sidelined traditional channels and formal diplomatic protocols .
Flattery as a Diplomatic Strategy
Flattery became a key “currency in dealings with the US with foreign leaders tailoring their communications to appeal to Trump’s personality and ego Praise and admiration were often openly expressed sometimes overshadowing substantive policy discussions This strategy was seen as necessary to maintain access and influence in the Trump White House .
Consequences for International Relations
While flattery “secured moments of goodwill and rare breakthroughs such as the Singapore summit with North Korea it also risked undermining longterm strategic interests The personalization of diplomacy made relationships volatile and dependent on the president’s mood and perceptions sometimes leading to unpredictability in foreign policy decisions .

Legacy and Lessons
The Trump “era’s diplomacy highlights the power of personal dynamics in international affairs but also warns of the risks when diplomacy centers too heavily on individual ego Moving forward a balance between personality and institutional protocol may be essential to ensuring stable and effective global relations .