A Very Stable Genius Summary

“I alone can fix it.” These five words encapsulate Donald Trump's perspective on leadership and governance, inviting us into an explosive examination of his presidency, where conventional rules no longer applied.

1. Alienating the Military Early On

Donald Trump's early interactions with the U.S. military displayed a deep misunderstanding of alliances and national strategy. In a pivotal meeting at the Pentagon’s secure room known as "the Tank," military leaders attempted to educate the new president on strategic priorities, only to be met with his outrage and disdain. During this July 2017 meeting, Trump dismissed NATO as "worthless" and erupted when discussing U.S. funds spent on foreign military efforts.

He accused the Joint Chiefs of Staff of being "losers" and claimed he wouldn’t trust them in a war, shattering the morale of his top military brass. The calculated responses of Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson were ignored, as Trump seemed more interested in berating his team than learning from their expertise. This moment set the tone for his contentious relationship with the armed forces throughout his presidency.

The fallout from this meeting led to deep mistrust, as military leaders learned to manage Trump's temperament rather than engage in meaningful policy discussions.

Examples

• Trump loudly declared NATO allies were freeloading and demanded payments for past security costs.
• He belittled military achievements in Afghanistan, calling it a "loser war."
• Secretary Rex Tillerson, following the meeting, reportedly referred to Trump as a "fucking moron."

2. Ignorance of Foundational Knowledge

Trump’s presidency was marked by frequent demonstrations of ignorance on subjects typically expected of a U.S. commander-in-chief. One illustrative moment occurred during his visit to Pearl Harbor in November 2017. As a sitting president, Trump asked his chief of staff, "What’s this all about?" leaving John Kelly stunned by his lack of awareness of this pivotal event in U.S. history.

Trump’s limited attention span and refusal to engage with briefing materials further contributed to his knowledge gaps. Even one-page, simplified summaries failed to capture his interest. His advisors nicknamed him the “two-minute man” due to his inability to focus beyond that threshold. Yet, this deficiency often translated into embarrassing public appearances and policy missteps that undermined his administration.

Constitutional readings also exposed Trump’s lack of preparation. When asked to read excerpts for an HBO special, his struggles with the language and unpreparedness stood out starkly against the poise of other leaders like Vice President Mike Pence.

Examples

• Trump assured India’s leader Narendra Modi that India didn’t share a border with China, a statement contradicted by geography.
• He stumbled through a pre-recorded reading of the Constitution, complaining that it “sounded like foreign language.”
• He repeatedly ignored intelligence updates and reduced their discussions to two-minute briefings.

3. Disdain for Experts and Abusive Leadership

Many of Trump’s staff joined with hopes of guiding or tempering his impulsive tendencies. However, they encountered ridicule and impossible demands instead. Trump often disregarded expertise, opting to ridicule his advisors in places like the Situation Room or the Oval Office.

HR McMaster, former National Security Advisor, was a frequent target. Despite being a decorated military general and historian, McMaster was mocked for his dedication to delivering bad news honestly. Trump turned him into a subject of derision with fake military-style lampoon. Kirstjen Nielsen, the Homeland Security Secretary, endured similar treatment as Trump berated her appearance and tried to force impractical and illegal immigration measures onto her.

In both cases, the long-term toll on staff morale was overwhelming, leading to continued turnover and frustration within Trump’s cabinet.

Examples

• HR McMaster was mocked during security briefings as Trump pretended to imitate a militant stance.
• Kirstjen Nielsen was berated for not closing the southern border, a legally impossible request.
• Staffers learned to soften the truth or avoid sharing bad news altogether.

4. Impulsive Foreign Policy Decisions

President Trump’s spur-of-the-moment decisions often blindsided his advisors and impacted U.S. diplomatic relations. In one instance, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Chief of Staff John Kelly smoothed over tensions with Mexico, only for Trump to abruptly announce troop deployments to the border, undermining their progress.

Another striking example came in 2018 when Trump announced the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Syria after a phone call with Turkish President Erdogan. Despite being advised by military leaders to stay, Trump disregarded them, leading to disruptions in an already fragile Middle East.

These unpredictable decisions showcased a governance style that rejected process, leaving advisors scrambling in the aftermath.

Examples

• Trump congratulated Vladimir Putin on a rigged election, ignoring advice not to do so.
• He upset NATO counterparts by threatening to leave the alliance if budgets weren’t raised to 2 percent of GDP.
• His Turkey-Syria decision affected U.S.-Kurdish alliances and the fight against ISIS.

5. Misplaced Trust in Vladimir Putin

Trump frequently doubted U.S. intelligence in favor of Vladimir Putin’s denials regarding Russian interference. After meeting him at the Helsinki summit, Trump publicly dismissed the evidence from his intelligence services, questioning why Russia would have influenced the 2016 election.

This stance alarmed his advisors, including Secretary Tillerson, who knew Putin’s focus was undermining U.S. strength. Despite warnings, Trump continued to emphasize his trust in Putin. These actions sowed distrust among intelligence leaders and weakened confidence in American foreign policy.

Examples

• Trump declared, “I don’t see why it would be Russia,” contradicting his agencies’ findings.
• He dismissed key intelligence, stating he knew more about Russia than his security briefings could provide.
• Trump rejected prepared talking points authored by McMaster to criticize Putin following their interactions.

6. Alienation of Allies

Trump’s confrontational style carried over to America’s closest allies, leading to tense moments. Theresa May faced his wrath over Brexit negotiations, while Justin Trudeau was labeled “weak” after a G7 summit disagreement. Trump's relationships with European leaders reflected less cooperation and more division.

At high-stakes global meetings such as NATO and G7, his treatment of long-standing allies contrasted sharply with his friendliness toward authoritarian figures like Putin.

Examples

• In Canada, Trump retracted U.S. support for a G7 statement within hours of its signing.
• British officials were bewildered by his harsh treatment of Theresa May.
• German Chancellor Angela Merkel faced his criticisms about NATO “freeloaders.”

7. Fumbling the Mueller Report Fallout

The Mueller Report, while documenting misconduct and obstruction, failed to yield immediate legal consequences for Trump. Despite evidence of interference by Russian operatives, Mueller’s lack of definitive conclusions allowed Trump to claim exoneration, muddying public perception.

With a dense report and no direct legal action taken, Trump controlled the narrative, declaring the outcome a victory.

Examples

• Following the report, Trump touted “no collusion” as a defense in interviews.
• Former FBI Director James Comey was fired over Trump’s insistence on ending the investigation.
• Mueller abstained from issuing a final judgment, amplifying Trump’s deflections.

8. Failure to Prioritize Preparedness

Trump’s aversion to preparation was a recurring theme during high-profile appearances. Whether presented with Constitutional text or intelligence briefings, his reluctance created gaps in public exposure and policy consistency.

Examples

• Staff repeatedly condensed memos to two minutes for Trump’s engagement.
• Visits like Pearl Harbor revealed his lack of historical knowledge.
• Critics noted shortcomings in televised presidential addresses echoing his lack of rehearsal.

9. Reliance on Bombastic Rhetoric

Trump’s speeches stood out for their tone of self-promotion, moving away from traditional “we”-centered leadership. He often centered his ideas as solutions rather than collaborative efforts across government entities.

Examples

• At the 2016 RNC convention, Trump declared: “I alone can fix it.”
• Staff saw speechwriting tailored solely for delivery interruptions rather than substance.
• His campaign persists as a performance medium-brand hybrid.

Takeaways

1. Insist on credible advice from experts—trust earned counsel over personal impulse in leadership.
2. Acknowledge the value of preparation—whether governing, negotiations rely less openly unstructured agendas without data absorption, daily challenges
3. Promote operational transparency through less personality-driven management across long term discipline frameworks Systems/players .