Donald Trump is often judged by the commotion he causes, his exaggerated gestures, and a style of exercising power that irritates even those who ultimately benefit from his decisions. But if one sets aside the daily drama for a moment and focuses on the results, what emerges is once again the same unpleasant reality for his detractors: that of a president capable of withstanding fierce criticism, straining delicate relationships, and still coming out with his initiative intact and a strategic direction that continues to place the United States at the center of everything.
There is, for starters, the standoff with Canada, where mockery has been constant regarding their trade disputes and his theatricality, which at times borders on excess—as was the case with the AI-generated video of Lake Ontario, renamed “Lake America.” Added to this are the mockeries over other fabricated images and his posts about construction projects at the White House, which his critics use to portray him as a distracted or self-centered leader.
The problem for them is that this interpretation, while it serves to fuel talk shows and outraged editorials, fails to explain why the United States continues to set the pace even when it irritates its neighbors, makes its partners uncomfortable, and indulges in a level of irreverence that no other head of state could sustain without falling from grace.
He was also harshly attacked over the war with Iran and the climate of menace it unleashed afterward, to the point that Iranian media outlets close to the government published material targeting his family and, in a particularly sinister manner, Barron Trump. That detail alone would have been enough to break more than one soft-spoken leader, who would have immediately sought refuge in diplomatic rhetoric, retreat, and the old temptation to manage the conflict out of fear. Trump chose a different path—one that may be liked more or less, though it makes clear a central trait of his leadership style: he does not back down when he perceives that an external threat is attempting to limit the United States’ room to maneuver. And while this may shock certain progressive sensibilities that always prefer polite gestures to tough effectiveness, it is part of the repertoire of a power that intends to remain so.
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While his critics were busy morally condemning his methods, the White House struck an energy deal of extraordinary magnitude with Venezuela, through which Washington secures majority control over 17 oil fields representing some 65 billion barrels of proven reserves. The deal, presented by Trump as a success achieved at no cost to the American taxpayer, reshapes the oil supply landscape and allows him to speak directly to citizens who have been worried for months about inflation and gas prices. There, the hyperbolic figure who so fascinates his enemies disappears, and the negotiator emerges—one who thinks about cheaper gasoline, bolstered reserves, and a much more robust energy position for his country.
That is the point that many refuse to understand. Trump may seem excessive; he may irritate the mainstream press; he may provide almost daily ammunition to those who make a living out of taking offense at his mannerisms—yet behind all that noise, there remains a very recognizable pattern: putting the material interests of Americans first, even if doing so means enduring the discomfort of allies, the anger of adversaries, and the lack of understanding from a segment of the media.
Canada protests, Iran threatens, editorials are up in arms, and, meanwhile, the United States expands its capacity to exert pressure, secures resources, and maintains an authority that no other political actor is truly in a position to challenge.
That is why, when one looks at the big picture rather than isolated incidents, it is hard to argue that we are dealing with a leader trapped by his own gaffes. The image that emerges is more like that of someone who accepts short-term wear and tear in order to gain a long-term advantage—even if that requires a thick skin, an unsentimental approach, and a rare willingness to endure the hysterical judgment of his time.
