"What Is Donald Trump Doing? Three Theories for the
Madness
Aron Solomon on the Chaos and the Cruelty of the Worst
President in American History
Each day under President Trump feels like a fresh
episode of a reality show that none of us signed up for
—like if Netflix did a Caribbean-set Napoleon Island
starring a hologram of Napoleon himself.
Trump’s decisions—ranging from international diplomacy
(or lack thereof) to domestic policies that seem
designed to enrage massive rotating chunks of the
nation—raise an inevitable question: What is he doing?
More specifically, why is he doing what he’s doing?
At this point, anyone who expects predictability or
reasoned policy out of Trump is either hopelessly
optimistic or watching an entirely different
administration than the rest of us. But as wild as his
decision-making process appears, I have three theories
that attempt to explain the method (or lack thereof)
behind the madness. Let’s break these down.
Theory 1: Trump is a Russian Asset
This theory isn’t new, but let’s be real: If someone
had laid out Trump’s actions over the past several
years and presented them without names attached, the
conclusion that he’s working to advance Russian
interests wouldn’t sound like a wild conspiracy. It’s
often so out there that the aforementioned Netflix
would surely pass at this reality series because it’s,
well, just too over the top.
From his fawning admiration of Vladimir Putin to his
relentless efforts to weaken NATO and insult US allies,
Trump has consistently pushed policies and rhetoric
that benefit Moscow. And let’s not forget his handling
of Ukraine—particularly his suggestion that the US
should reconsider its support and his troubling history
of withholding aid while pressuring the Ukrainian
government for political favors. If you’re Putin, you
couldn’t ask for a more effective tool to disrupt
Western unity.
Now, does this mean Trump is knowingly working for the
Kremlin? Nah—and that’s the disconnect with this theory
and why when members of Congress hint at this without
explanation, they’re being dangerously reductive.
There’s always the possibility that he’s just being
manipulated, that he enjoys the strongman aesthetic
Putin embodies, or that he’s simply taking actions that
align with his own self-interest (including the ever-
elusive and probably totally made-up “p-tape”),
regardless of how they impact national security. But
regardless of whether he’s a willing agent or an oft-
useful idiot, the outcome is the same: Russia benefits,
and America looks markedly weaker on the world stage.
Theory 2: Trump is Trying to Foment Global Chaos
For a man who ran a campaign on the promise of putting
“America First,” Trump sure seems intent on making the
world and America a far more unstable place.
Pulling out of international agreements, stoking trade
wars, cozying up to dictators while alienating allies—
it’s almost as if he wants the world order to fall
apart. And maybe he does. After all, Trump has never
been a fan of institutions he doesn’t personally
control. If global stability comes from organizations
like the UN, NATO, and the European Union, then
undermining them plays right into his personal brand of
nationalism and his own political survival strategy.
Trump thrives in chaos, as evinced by his seemingly
hourly off-on trade wars. He’s at his best (or at least
most effective) when he can create a crisis and then
position himself as the only one who can fix it. The
logic here is simple: If the world is on fire, people
are too distracted (or terrified) to focus on his
failures, especially if Trump comes in with even a
glass of water.
The problem for Trump is that his glass is usually
filled with gasoline these days. He’s banking on the
reality that strongmen do well in times of uncertainty,
and Trump—despite his bluster about democracy—has
always had an authoritarian streak.
The problem, of course, is that playing with global
stability is a dangerous game. Markets tank, wars break
out, and people suffer. But for Trump, that’s just
collateral damage in the larger pursuit of power.
Theory 3: He’s Just Worse at Presidenting Than Last
Time
As shocking as this might sound, it’s possible that
Trump’s presidential skillset second term is shaping up
to be even less stellar than his first.
One thing we learned from his initial presidency is
that he thrives on spectacle, but governing isn’t
really his thing. The first time around, at least he
had people—some competent, some not—who managed to keep
certain aspects of government running despite the
chaos. This time, however, the guardrails seem to be
gone. The remaining Trump loyalists appear to be either
blindly devoted or too afraid to contradict him,
leading to an even greater level of mismanagement and
erratic policymaking.
It’s also worth noting that Trump has never been
particularly interested in learning as much as he is in
asserting that he knows better. He governs by instinct,
impulse, and grievance—a dangerous goulash (“ghoulash”
would be more appropriate today). If his first term
proved anything, it’s that when left to his own
devices, Donald J. Trump almost always struggles to
execute even basic functions of government. His
approach to leadership is essentially a mix of gut
feelings, excerpts from conservative news segments, and
whatever gets the biggest applause at his rallies.
That’s not a strategy—it’s a recipe for disaster.
So, Which Theory is Right?
The frustrating answer is that it’s probably a mix of
all and none of the above. Trump’s presidency (both of
them) has been a cocktail of incompetence, self-
interest, and a complete disregard for long-term
consequences. His actions benefit Russia, whether he
intends them to or not. He thrives in chaos, whether
he’s actively trying to create it or just incapable of
preventing it. And he genuinely doesn’t seem to know
what he’s doing—at least not in a way that resembles
functional governance.
At the end of the day, Trump remains an enigma wrapped
in a bad spray tan. But one thing is clear: whatever
his motivations, the consequences of his presidency
will be felt for years to come. And whether he’s a
Russian asset, a chaos agent, or just deeply
incompetent, the American people—and the world—are left
to deal with the fallout.
Buckle up, because it’s going to be an even bumpier
ride."
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