Donald Trump and the 48 Laws of Power

Law 1 — Never Outshine the Master: At best, Trump rarely abides by this law. He represents himself as a master of many things, and won’t let voters on the campaign trail forget it. To Trump, Trump is the master — it’s who he is.

Law 2 — Never Put Too Much Trust in Friends, Learn How To Use Enemies: Trump is not relying on his old political friends to make a splash—the Donald is the splash. Potential opponents he has supported or given money to (Hillary Clinton; much of the GOP field) are now the butt of his jokes. “If you have no enemies,” Greene writes, you should “find a way to make them.” It’s safe to say Donald Trump is well on his way to making more enemies than ever, and in a short period of time. Why? Friends can turn on you, as Greene observes, and if you “hire a former enemy …he will be more loyal than a friend, because he has more to prove.”

Law 3 — Conceal Your Intentions: Trump did this from the very start, since in the past he has flirted with running for elected office a few times. The press doubted his seriousness, and they were wrong. Trump did everything they said he wouldn’t and it created a spectacle. Whether this campaign is a legitimate one or one of the most brilliant PR campaigns ever is something we’re not likely to ever know.

Law 4 — Always Say Less than Necessary: This is one of Trump’s areas of specialty. When asked at a town hall meeting recently whether he’ll put out “comprehensive” plans (and by comprehensive, we’re talking six page plans) on other policy issues, Trump demurred. Saying less than necessary provides flexibility. And, as Greene writes: “Even if you are saying something banal, it will seem original if you make it vague, open-ended, and sphinxlike.” 

Law 5 — So Much Depends on Reputation – Guard it with your Life: The Donald knows this more than any candidate in the field, as his reputation is his life. Past woes and troubles notwithstanding, Trump always finds a way to spin yarn into gold and mask the smell of doo on his shoe after he’s stepped in it. And whenever Trump is attacked, his PR machine goes to DEFCON 1 to defend the Donald and attacks those who question him.

Law 6 — Court Attention At All Cost: I don’t think this needs any further examination.

Law 7 — Get Others To Do the Work for you, But Always Take the Credit: Jeff Sessions, an Alabama Senator, “helped” Donald Trump concoct his immigration plan. Who really did the intellectual heavy lifting there and who got the credit? Similarly, many of Trump’s properties are joint ventures, but Trump usually gets the credit—and the naming rights.

Law 8 — Make Other People Come To You – Use Bait If Necessary: Trump’s remarks regarding Megyn Kelly and his supposedly bad/tough/unfair treatment at the Fox News Debate in Cleveland was the bait. Guess who came running?

Law 9 — Win Through Your Actions, Never Through Argument: Wrote Greene: “Demonstrate, do not explicate.” This is one area where Donald Trump is setting the agenda. Yes, Trump was fibbing when he claimed this Republican field wouldn’t be talking about immigration were it not for him, but would the 14th amendment discussion and anchor babies be at the forefront, were it not for him setting the agenda? Challengers have yet to find a way to stump Trump here, as actions beat argument, and argument is mostly what they’re doing.

Law 10 — Infection: Avoid the Unhappy and Unlucky: Trump calls people he doesn’t like “losers.” It’s safe to assume Trump does not surround himself with unhappy people. One might think having a lawyer who tells journalists “I will come after your [publication] and everybody else that you possibly know,” is a sad, unhappy person. Perhaps to most of us, but in Trump world he may be perfectly happy. Trump has a band of loyalists and doesn’t surround himself with people who don’t fit in. 

Law 11 — Learn to Keep People Dependent on You: Whether you’re a former Apprentice candidate, a member of the Trump Organization, or a supporter, Trump has a cult-like following. It’s even safe to say that members of the press have become dependent on Trump. He’s a consistently great source of material. Whether it be TV, web, or print: the Donald delivers. (You’re reading this article, aren’t you?)

Law 12 — Use Selective Honesty and Generosity to Disarm your Victim: This is another area where Trump soars. Greene writes here, that: “One sincere and honest move will cover over dozens of dishonest ones.” Look at the debate, where Megyn Kelly questioned Trump about how he refers to women. Rosie O’Donnell served as an anchor, and he also conceded, yes, there were others he treated poorly. Kelly moved on.

Law 13 — When Asking for Help, Appeal to People’s Self-Interest, Never to their Mercy or Gratitude: Trump, when talking about campaign donations, tells voters: “I don’t need your money. I am really rich.” Those who donate don’t feel like they’re being shaken-down, as is typical in campaigns. They’ll donate to “Make America Great Again” because giving a billionaire your money willingly isn’t as bad when it’s for a cause.

Law 14 — Pose as a Friend, Work as a Spy: Now that Trump has built an early lead, he is less posing as a friend to his competitors, but no doubt has friendly spies getting intel for him to use to his advantage. 

Law 15 — Crush your Enemy Totally: Trump’s problem here is that he has a few enemies, not just one. (We need not worry about Pataki or Gilmore coming out of nowhere to lead in the polls, but Trump has a few candidates to crush.) He sure seems to be focusing a lot of fire on Jeb Bush. If he crushes one, will he make others stronger? Will a candidate like Rand Paul or Rick Perry fall on their sword to distract him and force him to waste resources or time?

Law 16 — Use Absence to Increase Respect and Honor: “Sorry St. Anselm, can’t make it to your first GOP candidate forum in New Hampshire! Too busy!” Look for Trump to skip out on, or suggest that he will, for other events, too. Trump has already suggested he might skip the next debate, which CNN is hosting. Donald Trump is acting like an incumbent, in a way. There’s a reason incumbents will refuse to debate their challengers in congressional races; it often works.

Law 17 — Keep Others in Suspended Terror: Cultivate an Air of Unpredictability: Mainly the folks at the RNC and his competitors’ campaigns are the ones suspended in terror, but unpredictability comes with the territory for Trump.

Law 18 — Do Not Build Fortresses to Protect Yourself – Isolation is Dangerous: Trump has a fortress in Trump Tower, where he often hides and makes journalists come to him. That is, when he’s not insisting on phone interviews in lieu of in-person interviews. But make no mistake, Trump might eschew some of the established events, but he’s not hiding from the people. Whether it’s the border visit circus or the town-halls with more hecklers than an amateur college comedy hour, Trump is mingling.

Law 19 — Know Who You’re Dealing with – Do Not Offend the Wrong Person: Trump loves, perhaps even enjoys, offending people, but are the people he is offending random targets of drive-by Trumpian rhetoric, or are they calculated targets? I’d argue Trump knows and chooses his targets carefully. Megyn Kelly was a convenient way to move on from a less-than-stellar, albeit funny, showing at the debate in Cleveland.

Law 20 — Do Not Commit to Anyone: It’s safe to say Trump is only committed to Trump. Why did he raise his hand when asked whether he wouldn’t support the eventual GOP nominee? Law 20.

Law 21 — Play a Sucker to Catch a Sucker – Seem Dumber Than Your Mark: An easy way to get questions you can turn to your advantage. Trump doesn’t represent himself as a policy wonk, but sometimes he surprises, other times confounds. The media underestimates him. What would befall others (see: Palin, Sarah) is often converted into a strength for Trump.

Law 22 — Use the Surrender Tactic: Transform Weakness into Power: One can argue Trump did this in previous abortive runs at office, or in his corporate bankruptcies. Nobody likes a loser. Trump likes to live to fight another day, and it’s hard to argue that corporate bankruptcy is “losing” when you’re Donald Trump. The losers are his investors.

Law 23 — Concentrate Your Forces: Trump appears to be concentrating his forces on his main competitors, mocking them, making them seem smaller then they are. Unless the field adopts asymmetric warfare to oust him, Trump will play a “bing, bing, bong, bong” defense among the rest of the top 9 while ignoring those in the lower tier.

Law 24 — Play the Perfect Courtier: Trump is an imperfect courtier, but arguably the best in the field. As Greene wrote: “Learn and apply the laws of courtiership and there will be no limit to how far you can rise in the court.”

Law 25 — Re-Create Yourself: How did we go from Trump the Biff Tannen caricature to Trump the front-runner? Greene explains: “Re-create yourself by forging a new identity, one that commands attention and never bores the audience. Be the master of your own image rather than letting others define if for you. Incorporate dramatic devices into your public gestures and actions – your power will be enhanced and your character will seem larger than life.”

Law 26 — Keep Your Hands Clean: Anyone who has studied Trump’s lengthy history knows that there are some stains. Illegal immigrants working on a construction project? Somebody else’s fault. Staffer espousing birther conspiracies on Facebook? You’re Fired. (Trump has had his own dabbles with birtherism, so best to distance himself.) When it comes to keeping his hands relatively clean, Trump has a method.

Law 27 — Play on People’s Need to Believe to Create a Cultlike Following: As Greene writes: “People have an overwhelming desire to believe in something. Become the focal point of such desire by offering them a cause, a new faith to follow.” How about “Make America Great Again?”

Law 28 — Enter Action with Boldness: “Any mistakes you commit through audacity” observes Greene, “are easily corrected with more audacity.” Think Trump would back away from criticism on ___________? No, he pretty much doubles down every time. And it’s worked!

Law 29 — Plan All the Way to the End: Donald says it’s his plan to become president, which is why his willingness to keep open the possibility of a spoiler third-party bid has Republicans so rankled. What’s Donald’s endgame? Only the Donald really knows.

Law 30 — Make Your Accomplishments Seem Effortless: As Trump recently told voters in Michigan: “Jeb Bush or Hillary, or one of these politicians, all controlled by lobbyists and special interests—and donors, people like me from previous months—total control.” Donald Trump exudes money, and money implies success. And, to Trump, donations imply control, effortless control. 

Law 31 — Control the Options: Get Others to Play with the Cards You Deal: On issues like immigration and trade, Trump’s views are outside of the views of the elite political consensus, but playing the cards he has gives opponents a choice: Get on board with Trump, or take your chances by disagreeing. Greene reinforces: “Force them to make choices between the lesser of two evils, both of which serve your purpose.”

Law 32 — Play to People’s Fantasies: In nearly every stump speech, Trump gives an example of an American company (Ford, Nabisco, etc.) that also makes its products abroad. He goes on a long hypothetical of what he’d do to stop them. It’s pure fantasy, but it plays into the populist myth that free trade is the reason for our economic woes. Trump himself put it this way: “The final key to the way I promote is bravado. I play to people’s fantasies.” Magical theater.

Law 33 — Discover Each Man’s Thumbscrew:  Jeb Bush has been treading very carefully on the lightning rod that is Common Core education standards. What does Trump do? Schedule a town hall at the same time Jeb! does, and makes sure to remind everyone Jeb! loves Common Core. Here, Trump is like Heath Ledger’s character in The Dark Knight: “I just did what I do best. I took your little plan and I turned it on itself.” Trump likes to get the advantage with thumbscrews, and knows how to push peoples’ buttons. 

Law 34 — Be Royal In Your Own Fashion: Act Like a King To Be Treated Like One: Gilded tower? Check. Marble and gold everywhere? Check. Personalized and branded Boeing airplane and Sikorsky helicopter? Check and check. Trump knows and acts the part.

Law 35 — Master the Art of Timing: Whether it’s on stage (the pause before raising his hand at the debate), in interviews, or in strategy, one thing is clear: Trump has his timing down like a Swiss watch.

Law 36 — Disdain Things You Cannot Have: Ignoring Them is the Best Revenge: Trump is quick to turn on people who turn on him. Macy’s no longer carries his ties? Trump tweets out a call for a boycott, adding “Macy’s stores suck and they are bad for U.S.A.” Disdain he has down. Greene cautions: “It is sometimes best to leave things alone.” Trump has a problem letting things go.

Law 37 — Create Compelling Spectacles: A visit to the border in Laredo, helicopter rides for the kids at the Iowa state fair. The spectacles are here, and they’ll continue. Why? Greene explains: “Striking imagery and grand symbolic gestures create the aura of power – everyone responds to them.”

Law 38 — Think As You Like But Behave Like Others: Here, Trump ignores the rule. Greene writes: “If you make a show of going against the times, flaunting your unconventional ideas and unorthodox ways, people will think that you only want attention…” Attention is what Trump is about, but he has been able to do it in a way that doesn’t make him look as if he is looking down on voters.

Law 39 — Stir Up Waters to Catch Fish: Whether it’s his opponents or the press, Trump has mastered Law 39. Here, Greene says: “…if you can make your enemies angry while staying calm yourself, you gain a decided advantage.” Trump is like Walter Sobchak in the Big Lebowski: “I’m perfectly calm, dude… Calmer than you are.”

Law 40 — Despise the Free Lunch: Trump has reversed himself on the free lunch. He uesd to be a cafeteria of free lunches for politicians, but now that it doesn’t suit his needs anymore, he criticizes the free lunch. Greene captures it here by saying: “What is offered for free is dangerous – it usually involves either a trick or a hidden obligation.” And that’s what the Donald is saying he did, and with selective honesty about his role in the past, voters are loving it.

Law 41 — Avoid Stepping Into a Great Man’s Shoes: Whether it’s Romney or McCain as the shoes on the GOP side, or President Obama, Trump doesn’t regard any as “great men.”

Law 42 — Strike the Shepherd and the Sheep will Scatter: Is Reince Priebus the shepherd? And has Trump successfully neutralized him? Perhaps. The talk of their phone call after Trump’s immigration remarks suggested Trump was the victor. 

Law 43 — Work On the Hearts and Minds of Others: This is where Trump focuses his efforts on his base, a hodge podge of disaffected voters who don’t like the status quo. President Obama found similar success, but had a much broader base. But can The Donald grow his?

Law 44 — Disarm and Infuriate with the Mirror Effect: Trump best abides by this rule in showing the public that he has played his opponents’ version of politics: pay to play. But this is not a straight mirror effect, it’s Trump showing them the mirror, and then popping out to remind people he’s no longer like they are. It’s effective, but many voters see through it.

Law 45 — Preach the Need For Change, But Never Reform Too Much at Once: We’re seeing this with Trump’s walking back of the birthright citizenship repeal claims, suggesting it might have to wait until his second term. Smart move.

Law 46 — Never Appear Too Perfect: As evidence in the debate, Trump is happy to flaunt his flaws when it suits him. His failed foray into Atlantic City was a perfect opportunity to own up to it, and then use it to bash an opponent, Chris Christie: “And I had the good sense to leave Atlantic City, which by the way, Caesars just went bankrupt. Every company, Chris can tell you, every company virtually in Atlantic City went bankrupt.”

Law 47 — Do Not Go Past the Mark You Aimed for; In Victory, Learn when to Stop: Trump never stops entirely, but only the Donald knows when he’s achieved victory. Is it a few primaries? The nomination? The Presidency? Only the Donald really knows what he wants to accomplish.

Law 48 — Assume Formlessness: Formlessness is what Trump might call “flexibility,” something he isn’t afraid to hide behind. While some politicians are accused of flip flopping for changing their views on certain issues, Trump uses this as the sign he’s an enlightened businessman and skilled negotiator who wants to keep his options open. 

How far will the Donald go in 2016? If he continues to adhere to the 48 laws of power, probably further than many might think.