Trump built his political brand on being the ultimate negotiator, but in his second term that image is crumbling. On “The Opinions,” columnist Carlos Lozada argues that we’re witnessing “the limits to his deal-making prowess, especially internationally.”
This whole notion of Trump as the master deal maker, as deal maker in chief — it’s all part of this long-running Trump mythology that was part of “The Art of the Deal,” part of “The Apprentice.” I think what we’re seeing now very clearly in the second term is the limits to his deal-making prowess, especially internationally.
Lozada points to unfulfilled promises: bringing down prices on Day 1, ending the Ukraine war in a day — a claim Trump made over 50 times on the campaign trail. His trade deals have been inconsistent, reflecting a tariff policy that has shifted unpredictably. Courts have also constrained his ability to act unilaterally. The move to send Vice President JD Vance for a single day of negotiations is described as theater, insufficient for resolving complex international issues.
“I don’t think Trump has the attention to detail, the patience, frankly, for arduous negotiations that lead to a real deal,” Lozada says. “He wants to save face. He wants to say that whatever he gets was better than the Obama deal, and he wants to get out as soon as he can.”