Why Trump Fails at Negotiation: Ex-Aide Reveals All

Insights from a Former Advisor on Presidential Negotiations

John Bolton, the former National Security Adviser to President Donald Trump, recently shared his reflections on the challenges of preparing a president for high-stakes diplomatic meetings. His comments came in response to the recent summit between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska, where Bolton observed that Putin appeared more prepared and composed than Trump.

Bolton highlighted that Trump often did not thoroughly review the detailed briefing materials prepared by the National Security Council. These materials typically involve input from various government departments and agencies, but Trump's engagement with them was minimal. This pattern was consistent across multiple presidencies, according to Bolton.

He recounted an instance during the 2018 summit with Putin, where he attempted to brief Trump on strategic arms issues while they were en route from Scotland to Finland aboard Air Force One. During this time, Trump was occupied watching the men’s World Cup final in Moscow between France and Croatia, which made it difficult for Bolton to gain his attention.

The 2018 meeting provided a glimpse into how Trump approached negotiations with Putin. Bolton noted that Putin quickly engaged with Trump, and the latter inadvertently gave Putin a favorable opportunity by inviting him to ride in the presidential limousine. This one-on-one interaction allowed Putin to make a strong impression, which Bolton believes contributed to his sense of success following the meeting.

While the White House has not commented on these observations, Trump has continued to engage in discussions regarding the Ukraine-Russia conflict. On Monday, he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other European leaders, describing the meeting as "very good." Trump also announced plans to arrange a meeting between Zelensky and Putin, with the possibility of a Trilat meeting involving all three leaders.

When asked about the differences between Trump from his first term and now, Bolton acknowledged that the 79-year-old occasionally mixes up names. However, he emphasized that these lapses should not be overinterpreted. Bolton mentioned that Trump sometimes referred to him as "Michael," possibly confusing him with the singer Michael Bolton or former Secretary of State Michael Pompeo.

Bolton’s insights provide a unique perspective on the dynamics of presidential diplomacy and the challenges faced by advisors in preparing leaders for critical international engagements. His experiences underscore the importance of thorough preparation and the unpredictable nature of high-level negotiations.

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