The Atlantic Nov. 2019
The commander in chief is impulsive, disdains expertise, and gets his intelligence briefings from Fox News. What does this mean for those on the front lines?The generals I spoke with didn’t agree on everything, but they shared the following five characterizations of Trump’s military leadership.
I. HE DISDAINS EXPERTISETrump has little interest in the details of policy. He makes up his mind about a thing, and those who disagree with him—even those with manifestly more knowledge and experience—are stupid, or slow, or crazy.---
II. HE TRUSTS ONLY HIS OWN INSTINCTSTrump believes that his gut feelings about things are excellent, if not genius. Those around him encourage that belief, or they are fired. Winning the White House against all odds may have made it unshakable.---
III. HE RESISTS COHERENT STRATEGYIf there is any broad logic to Trump’s behavior, it’s Keep ’em confused. He believes that unpredictability itself is a virtue.----
IV. “HE IS REFLEXIVELY CONTRARYâ€Trump resents advice and instruction. He likes to be agreed with. Efforts to broaden his understanding irritate him. ----
V. HE HAS A SIMPLISTIC AND ANTIQUATED NOTION OF SOLDIERING
Though he disdains expert advice, Trump reveres—perhaps fetishizes—the military.
More:
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2019/11/military-officers-trump/598360/
