Threats, military buildups, and negotiating offers: Trump’s national security playbook

President Donald Trump’s actions during his first year back in office show he has developed a playbook for handling adversaries.

Once a national security threat is identified, he will lean into diplomacy while simultaneously amassing nearby military forces in case of a lack of progress in negotiations. Trump will also push for a diplomatic resolution while threatening military intervention if that fails, ensuring the other party knows that’s a real possibility if they don’t comply.

That playbook is currently playing out with regard to Iran, was on display late last year with Venezuela, and was even evident ahead of last year’s strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. However, any military operation carries inherent risks.

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