Lose the Trump Obsession

Lose the Trump Obsession

While this post discusses politics, its purpose is not political. No agenda, no sides—just observations meant to spark reflection, particularly for those in leadership roles who may want to apply the lessons themselves.

“Lose the Trump obsession” refers to the relentless commentary from all corners of the political and media world. On one side, President Trump is painted as a self-absorbed, reckless figure. On the other, he’s praised as a bold outsider who won more counties and votes than any Republican since Reagan.

The result? A swirl of fake news, alternative facts, and conflicting realities—all competing for airtime, but offering little substance. Outside of blocked travelers, endless protests, and polarized news cycles, there hasn’t been much real movement.

Too many people now over-identify with national political figures or causes, often at the expense of taking meaningful action in their own communities. We’ve seen this before. Eight years ago, Barack Obama was cast as a savior figure. Now, it’s President Trump leading what many call the “silent majority.” Lather, rinse, repeat.

As the Denison Forum insightfully noted:

Popular leaders reflect their times. Transformational leaders change them.

We don’t yet know what President Trump and a Republican Congress will achieve. His election—despite no prior political experience—is a major experiment. Then again, so is the American system itself: an evolving, trial-and-error democracy. The Founding Fathers built it to be a “work in progress,” and based on how modern government functions, Franklin and Jefferson probably wouldn’t be as surprised as we are.

For PR professionals and consultants racing to respond to Trump’s tweets about their clients—pause. These tweets have been incredibly effective, at least in terms of grabbing attention. Reacting too quickly could do more harm than good. Corporations exist to manage risk, not to escalate it. Remember Ford’s shift in tone after the holidays? Sometimes the best response is no response—at least until the situation becomes clearer or the next controversy takes over the headlines.

In fact, a more measured approach might sound like common sense—an underrated quality these days. To borrow a biblical line, be slow to speak and quick to listen.

This moment also brings to mind a favorite quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson:

“What you do speaks so loudly, I cannot hear what you say.”

I once heard that from a global PR director, ironically in a meeting where spin—not substance—was the goal. Thankfully, that was pre-Twitter. We had to persuade one another with facts, logic, and real conversations. Imagine that.

As we move forward, maybe we can aim to listen more, post less, and resist the urge to always be seen, liked, or followed. After all, in baseball, batting .333 gets you into the Hall of Fame. You don’t have to hit every pitch—just enough of the right ones.