Trumps self-promotion and praise often refers to the “great” deals he has made, they are always wins for the United States he claims.
Even if that were true, it would be part of the problem as well.
Right now the greatest long-term risk for America is the deals he is making on the global front. You can’t bully countries and world leaders and not realize there will be consequences. You can’t make them appear losers to their citizens and as caving into the demands of a bully.
Consider this assessment from Project-Syndicate.org
PARIS – One can reproach Viktor Orbán, a friend of US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, for many things. But the Hungarian prime minister is not wrong to point out that we have just witnessed Trump “eating [European Commission President] Ursula von der Leyen for breakfast.” After all, the draft trade agreement the European Union has now concluded with the United States sets a 15% tariff on most European exports to the US, against a 0% tariff on US exports to Europe. Clearly, the match goes to Trump, 15 to nil.
That is not how you build successful long-term relationships.
Meanwhile, most other European leaders seem overwhelmed by the current state of affairs. The complexities of today’s world seem too much for them, and so they submit to whatever is demanded.
They have forgotten Benjamin Franklin’s warning that “a people willing to sacrifice a little freedom for a little security deserves neither, and ends up losing both.” P-S
There is no doubt Trump is changing the world order, no doubt to the delight of some Americans who see the US as the big cheese, the one in control of everything, calling all the shots. After all, that’s why they voted for Trump, right?
While a one-sided win might provide an immediate sense of victory for one party, it often comes at a significant cost to relationships, trust, and long-term opportunities. The more sustainable and generally preferable outcome in most negotiations is a “win-win” scenario, where both parties feel satisfied and the relationship is preserved or even strengthened.
A successful negotiation is one in which the parties involved reach an agreement that:
- Meets the core interests of all sides – not necessarily everything they wanted, but enough to consider the outcome acceptable or beneficial.
- Is sustainable and implementable – the terms are realistic and can be acted upon.
- Preserves (or improves) relationships – ideally, both sides feel respected and are willing to work together again in the future.
- Avoids unnecessary conflict – even if tough, the negotiation is conducted with professionalism and clarity.
- Creates value where possible – through compromise, creativity, or trade-offs, both sides may gain more than they expected.
In short: a successful negotiation finds mutual gain, resolves differences constructively, and leaves the parties satisfied and committed to the outcome.
QUINNSCOMMENTARY 
“They have forgotten Benjamin Franklin’s warning that “a people willing to sacrifice a little freedom for a little security deserves neither, and ends up losing both.” P-S”
Is this an appropriate use of this Ben Franklin quote?
Not a chance. It had nothing to do with negotiation.
Ben was writing about taxes and defense – essentially he was bitching about William Penn, then governor of Pennsylvania, where his family was trying to duck legislation that increased taxes on Penn family property intended to fund defense during the French and Indian War.
It had nothing to do with “win – win” or zero sum “I can only win if you lose” negotiations.
Obviously, no reasonable person thinks the idiot Trump is a statesman.
Consider that, until 2025 only about 30% of all import goods were subject to tariffs in the United States, the rest were on the free list. The “average” tariffs charged by the United States were at a historic low. For comparison, until recently, Japan imposed the following tariffs on US goods:
Autos, 10%
Auto parts 5.3%
Agricultural products 38.5% – 700+%
Steel/aluminum 2.5% – 50%
In terms of “relationships and trust”, Trump would reasonably assert that Japan, South Korea, the Phillipines, Taiwan and the EU have been relying on exhorbitant American defense spending for eight decades – first to overcome the Nazi’s, later the Soviets, now Russia and China.
So, if the Franklin quote is apt and appropriate here, it is that the NATO members of the EU, as well as the listed countries in the Pacific need to step up. Members of the EU agreed to increase defense spending from 2% to 5% of GDP – where, before Trump, many weren’t even spending 2%. That is, they will be partners, and will no longer be able to suppress their own defense spending, leveraging American taxpayers, to subsidize domestic spending in their democratic socialist economies.
The first thing they tell you in negotiation 101, is that you can always walk away. Obviously, Trump knows this. And, obviously, the EU and others believed the final deal, as negotiated, was in their best interest – taking everything into consideration, defense and economics included, yesterday, today and tomorrow.
Most assuredly, many in the EU believe/know Trump is temporary. Perhaps someday Trump will parrott the President in the movie “Dave”: “… I forgot that I was hired to do a job for you and that it was just a temp job at that.”
Not a chance.
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Interesting observation. Th
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