Trump’s maximalist approach begs the question: How many times can he cry wolf?

Published January 23, 2026 6:00am ET



President Donald Trump wrote about his Art of the Deal strategy in his 1987 book and has used the tactics throughout his career. But his maximalist approach as commander in chief could be reaching the point of diminishing returns, considering how often he has used it in the past year.

Tom Cochran, a Democratic strategist and former Obama State Department official, described Trump’s strategy as “textbook anchoring, not something unique to Trump but standard negotiation tactics.”

Already a print subscriber? Click here to login/register your account

Trusted reporting.Unlimited access.

Subscribe for full access to Washington Examiner coverage, expert political analysis, and subscriber-only journalism.

Get Unlimited Access

Already a member? Log in

Cancel anytime.