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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsRobert Reich: Nato Summit Exposed Real Source of Trump's Power
Nato Summit Exposed Real Source of Trumps Power
July 10, 2026 at 10:34 am EDT By Taegan Goddard 63 Comments
https://politicalwire.com/2026/07/10/nato-summit-exposed-real-source-of-trumps-power/
Robert Reich: His power doesnt come from his being president of the most powerful nation in the world. In fact, his arbitrary tariffs, absurd war in Iran, and outright abduction of Nicolás Maduro have reduced the U.S.s standing in much of the world.
Nor does his power come from his Maga base, which is now having second thoughts about supporting someone who got the U.S. involved in another Middle Eastern war, caused prices to rise, and whose administration still refuses to release the complete Epstein files.
Nor does his power flow from any kind of strategic brilliance or cunning.
Trumps power comes from his willingness to violate all the norms, rules and laws about how U.S. presidents are supposed to act to do anything that helps him accumulate more wealth, power, and glory, and wreak vengeance on anyone who has tried to get in the way.
BarbD
(1,547 posts)No rules apply.....only making money.
OMGWTF
(5,291 posts)It was miraculous. It was almost no trick at all, he saw, to turn vice into virtue and slander into truth, impotence into abstinence, arrogance into humility, plunder into philanthropy, thievery into honor, blasphemy into wisdom, brutality into patriotism, and sadism into justice. Anybody could do it; it required no brains at all. It merely required no character.
― Joseph Heller, Catch-22
KS Toronado
(24,344 posts)MLWR
(1,179 posts)the republicans in congress and the six enabling fascists on the SCOTUS who want a king/dictator and rule in his favor letting him get away with at least one crime a day, with violating all norms and allowing a clearly demented man continue doing the same without reins.
Martin Eden
(16,149 posts)If Republicans in Congress fulfilled their sworn oath to the United States Constitution, they would remove him from office.
warmfeet
(3,358 posts)ananda
(35,941 posts)Large animal forms, including humans, not so much.
Javaman
(66,051 posts)Farmer-Rick
(12,889 posts)If he were just an average person he would be in jail for life by now. What really makes him ignoring his oath to the US Constitution a power, is that NO ONE is holding him accountable. Bunch sycophants and boot lickers ensure he is safe.
popsdenver
(2,916 posts)don't leave out the True Elephant in the room: THE REPUBLICAN CORPORATIONS
And, thanks to Citizen's United, they had the doors blown wide open to allow Corporate Money, Political Donations, etc etc etc
AND the entire Media, owned/operated by Republican Uber Rich and Republican Corporations
Joinfortmill
(22,040 posts)paulkienitz
(1,567 posts)Thats what allows him to violate all the norms and get away with it, to commit crimes and not be held accountable, and to have reckless and impulsive bad decisions get carried out by the government.
pat_k
(14,753 posts)Robert Reich is right that there is a sort of "power" in being willing to "to violate all the norms, rules and laws about how U.S. presidents are supposed to act to do anything that helps him accumulate more wealth, power, and glory, and wreak vengeance on anyone who has tried to get in the way.
Certainly, Roy Cohn taught him well. But he is the culmination of a 45 year project and the racist, soulless Republican Party, like lemmings, are following him over a cliff. This is the culmination, not of a beginning, but of an end.
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/09/19/roy-cohn-donald-trump-documentary-228144
. . Cohn imparted an M.O. thats been on searing display throughout Trumps ascent, his divisive, captivating campaign, and his fraught, unprecedented presidency. Deflect and distract, never give in, never admit fault, lie and attack, lie and attack, publicity no matter what, win no matter what, all underpinned by a deep, prove-me-wrong belief in the power of chaos and fear.
. . .
We WILL end the radical right insanity in America!!