Speak Softly Carry A Big Stick? (1 Viewer)

[ScrambledEggs]

Has this saying ever applied?

Big stick ideology - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

First, it was essential to possess serious military capability that would force the adversary to pay close attention.

The other qualities were to act justly toward other nations, never to bluff, to strike only when prepared to strike hard, and to be willing to allow the adversary to save face in defeat.

The more I think about Trump is that in his 2nd term he's really really trying to prove how big of a tough guy he is and try to scare world actors into submission, so far mostly via threat of action (tariffs on, tariffs off, invade Greenland, take Panama, going to stop supporting Ukraine, etc).

But he sure isn't "speaking softly" about it.

What is the "stick" here?

 

[Mithrae]

Has this saying ever applied?

Big stick ideology - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

The more I think about Trump is that in his 2nd term he's really really trying to prove how big of a tough guy he is and try to scare world actors into submission, so far mostly via threat of action (tariffs on, tariffs off, invade Greenland, take Panama, going to stop supporting Ukraine, etc).

But he sure isn't "speaking softly" about it.

What is the "stick" here?

Trump follows a rather different school of thought.

Madman theory - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

The madman theory is a political theory commonly associated with the foreign policy of U.S. president Richard Nixon and his administration, who tried to make the leaders of hostile communist bloc countries think Nixon was irrational and volatile so that they would avoid provoking the U.S. in fear of an unpredictable response.[1]

The premise of madman theory is that it makes seemingly incredible threats seem credible. For instance, in an era of mutually assured destruction, threats by a rational leader to escalate a dispute may seem suicidal and thus easily dismissible by adversaries. However, a leader's suicidal threats may seem credible if the leader is believed to be irrational.

 

[TU Curmudgeon]

Has this saying ever applied?

Big stick ideology - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

The more I think about Trump is that in his 2nd term he's really really trying to prove how big of a tough guy he is and try to scare world actors into submission, so far mostly via threat of action (tariffs on, tariffs off, invade Greenland, take Panama, going to stop supporting Ukraine, etc).

But he sure isn't "speaking softly" about it.

What is the "stick" here?

One of these days SOMEONE is going to get up, walk out on a meeting with Mr Trump, and, when asked why, say something to the effect of "I don't deal with liars and even more so do I not deal with foul-mouthed liars who are insultingly egotistical and ignorant.".

Within minutes Mr Trump will order an attack on the country that person comes from.

 

[Lursa]

Has this saying ever applied?

Big stick ideology - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

The more I think about Trump is that in his 2nd term he's really really trying to prove how big of a tough guy he is and try to scare world actors into submission, so far mostly via threat of action (tariffs on, tariffs off, invade Greenland, take Panama, going to stop supporting Ukraine, etc).

But he sure isn't "speaking softly" about it.

What is the "stick" here?

That's just it...I've been pointing that out...he's a bully and when that doesnt work, he doenst have a back up plan.