Trump’s Bullying Tactics Are Failing America and the World

Donald Trump’s presidency has been defined by one thing above all: bullying. From threatening to buy Greenland to promising to “wipe Iran off the face of the planet,” Trump’s approach to leadership is a schoolyard bully’s playbook writ large. As writer Dave Schilling points out in a sharp commentary for The Guardian, this tactic might get a bully what they want in middle school, but it fails spectacularly when wielded as a tool of foreign policy.

Bullying is about asserting dominance over someone who threatens your fragile ego. It’s a way to feel powerful by putting others down. Trump’s relentless verbal assaults and nuclear saber-rattling are just a grown-up version of this childish behavior. He uses social media—a platform designed for maximum cruelty—to broadcast threats and insults to the world. But does this strategy actually work?

The answer is no. Despite Trump’s bluster, violence in Iran continues, regional tensions remain high, and global respect for the United States has plummeted. The brief ceasefires and fragile agreements that follow his threats are like the fleeting victory of a bully who’s merely scared his victims into temporary submission. It’s a hollow power that leaves everyone worse off.

Schilling’s reflection is personal and poignant. He contrasts Trump’s bullying with his own childhood experience of being teased for being different, noting that bullies often target those who stand out. But unlike a playground bully who might get a momentary rush, Trump’s tactics deepen the country’s wounds. His voters may applaud the aggression, mistaking it for strength, but the reality is a nation weakened by a leader who confuses intimidation with effective governance.

The damage goes beyond foreign policy. America’s standing in the world is diminished, gas prices remain high, and domestic problems fester. The administration’s bullying approach leaves the country feeling “hollow,” much like the victim of a wedgie after the initial sting fades. It’s a power play that benefits only the bully, not the bullied or the broader public.

As Schilling notes, opposing Trump’s bullying requires tough choices. Sometimes, to fight a bully, you have to stand your ground or even push back. But the resistance has struggled to meet Trump on his own terms, allowing his tactics to dominate the political landscape.

Ultimately, Trump’s bullying “works” only for him. It’s a strategy that delivers short-term ego boosts but long-term harm to the nation and the world. America deserves leadership that builds up rather than tears down. Until then, we’re stuck watching a grown man throw tantrums on the world’s biggest playground, with consequences that are anything but child’s play.