For years, U.S. President Donald Trump has sparked widespread controversy due to his unconventional political style, provocative statements, and demands that often seem out of the ordinary. While some view him as an impulsive figure driven by personal ego, others see him as pursuing a calculated approach based on shock, repetition, and imposing conditions. The central question remains: Are Trump’s actions truly random, or are they part of a consistent and recurring strategy?
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This is the question columnist Tom Rogers attempts to answer in an article published by Newsweek, analyzing the behavioral pattern Trump follows in managing confrontations and making decisions.
A New Story Every Day
Rogers argues that nearly every day brings a new story reflecting Trump’s norm-breaking conduct, narcissistic tendencies, and inclination to present shocking demands—along with his belief that every issue revolves around what personal gain he can extract.
He cites a report concerning the cancellation of federal funding for a massive infrastructure tunnel project that would have significantly improved rail traffic between New York and New Jersey. According to the article, Trump announced he would restore the funding if “Penn Station,” which the trains serve, were renamed after him. He also suggested that Dulles Airport outside Washington should bear his name as well.
The writer sees these demands as reflecting a highly inflated ego, though not entirely surprising within the broader pattern of behavior in which Trump has previously placed his name unilaterally on a prominent national site honoring President John F. Kennedy.
Upcoming Book: “Trump’s Ten Commandments”
To help interpret such incidents, Rogers highlights an upcoming book titled “Trump’s Ten Commandments” by Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, a professor at Yale School of Management and president of the Yale Chief Executive Leadership Institute, co-authored with his assistant Stephen Tian.
According to the article, what makes the book particularly compelling is not only its summary of Trump’s “playbook” in ten clear and recurring behavioral rules, but also Sonnenfeld’s unique relationship with Trump, which grants him distinctive insight grounded in firsthand experience.
Rogers, who has participated in several institute events, says he can personally attest that Sonnenfeld is a distinctive figure in the business world—combining high-level academic expertise in leadership management with personal relationships with numerous CEOs and government leaders worldwide, a nuanced understanding of politics, and significant media skill.
Sonnenfeld has also had numerous personal interactions with Trump throughout his business and political career, giving him a perspective on the president’s style that few others possess.
From “The Apprentice” to Political Opposition
Sonnenfeld first entered Trump’s orbit when the two engaged in public debate during the launch of “The Apprentice.” He believed the show presented young viewers with a deeply distorted image of what true leadership means.
Despite this, Trump grew close enough to him to offer him the presidency of “Trump University,” an offer Sonnenfeld declined. Although he acknowledges Trump’s personal charisma, Sonnenfeld later became one of the prominent organizers of business leaders opposing Trump’s political initiatives.
Nevertheless, the article emphasizes that the book does not present political counterarguments. Rather, it offers an objective reading of how Trump repeatedly returns to specific strategies regardless of context.
Underestimating Trump’s Strategic Skill Is a “Serious Mistake”
Rogers cites a recent article in The Daily Beast describing Trump as a “dangerous crazy fool” lacking any traits that suggest rational thinking behind his actions—a characterization that is not uncommon in public discourse.
However, according to the article, Sonnenfeld warns that underestimating Trump’s strategic acumen would be a grave error.
Sonnenfeld and Tian explain that the book identifies ten “commandments,” or behavioral rules, that Trump consistently reverts to, irrespective of political or negotiating context.
Rogers argues that these rules form something akin to an “operating manual” for understanding the American president’s behavior. Among the ten commandments, the article highlights three that it considers most illustrative of Trump’s method.
Three Core “Commandments”
1. The First Punch
The first rule is that Trump’s “Art of the Deal” begins with a punch in the face, where other leaders might seek to build trust. He starts with an extreme and disorienting position—such as in his dealings with Europe over Greenland—and ultimately ends with an agreement that grants him significant gains because it appears less harsh than his initial demand.
2. The “Sleeper Effect”
The second rule is what the authors call the “sleeper effect”: repeating any claim endlessly, regardless of its accuracy, with complete confidence, until over time it begins to resemble truth in the public’s mind. Media outlets sympathetic to the administration often amplify these claims, reinforcing this strategy.
3. “I Alone Can Fix It”
The third rule is the “I alone can fix it” syndrome. Trump frequently speaks about himself and his achievements in exaggerated terms, casts everything associated with him in heroic light, and requires a constant stream of superlatives. The article also notes his tendency to surround the spaces he occupies with golden décor.
Between Shock and Indifference
The authors explain that this ten-point guide is what Trump consistently returns to. Yet a large portion of the political class either reacts with fresh surprise each time—as though his behavior were unexpected—or responds with indifference. The article suggests that Trump has succeeded in exhausting public sensitivity to his recurring conduct.
It adds that fully embodying this “playbook” requires a unique blend of personal traits and flaws forming a highly troubled mental state—reflecting a psychological profile described as self-absorbed to the point of sociopathy. However, the writer notes that such assessments fall within the expertise of psychiatric professionals, not leadership academics.
Decoding the “Apparent Madness”
Tom Rogers concludes that the next time Trump makes a demand that seems random or unpredictable—such as annexing Greenland or renaming Penn Station—“Trump’s Ten Commandments” will serve as an essential reference for decoding what appears to be Trump’s madness.
(Euronews)
