Well done, the Koreans, imo.

[Billy Goat Sverige]

I really am struggling to see how the Trump haters are reconciling this with their conviction that he's a terrible President and bound to get us all wiped out in a nuclear conflict.

His foreign policy actions have led to a thaw in Korean relations unprecedented in 70 years and the effective neutralisation of a rogue nuclear state.

That in itself is more than every US President since Reagan combined has achieved in foreign policy.

I think a lot of the wide spread pessimism is partly because there’s an unwillingness to acknowledge Trump’s tactics have worked. Granted they’ve been down this road before which in turn creates pessimism but it looks to be different this time.

[Burney]

I think a lot of the wide spread pessimism is partly because there’s an unwillingness to acknowledge Trump’s tactics have worked. Granted they’ve been down this road before which in turn creates pessimism but it looks to be different this time.

I think there's also a failure to grasp that, although Trump is no-one's idea of a diplomat or genius, it is still possible for his administration to achieve foreign policy coups. Because when you are the biggest economy and most powerful military on earth, you don't actually have to be a genius to get results. You just have to be prepared to use the leverage those two statuses give you. Most US Presidents have been afraid to do this when it comes to the Chinese.

[redgunamo]

I think there's also a failure to grasp that, although Trump is no-one's idea of a diplomat or genius, it is still possible for his administration to achieve foreign policy coups. Because when you are the biggest economy and most powerful military on earth, you don't actually have to be a genius to get results. You just have to be prepared to use the leverage those two statuses give you. Most US Presidents have been afraid to do this when it comes to the Chinese.

Trump's genius is to not be a genius, do you mean?

[Burney]

Trump's genius is to not be a genius, do you mean?

Essentially, yes. The tendency of really clever people is to overcomplicate things, empathise too much and try and think 20 moves ahead. They lose sight of their goals. They will try to untie the Gordian knot, when what it really needs is simply a swift sword stroke.

Trump's approach is to look at what the US wants, look at what cards it has to play and play them.

As Nelson said: "Never mind manoeuvres. Go straight at 'em."