Trump and the Diplomacy of Flattery.
US President Donald Trump has dominated international relations with his unconventional diplomatic style, which focuses on personal relationships and boosting his ego.
Reports, including from Politico and Axios, suggest that world leaders have recognized this and have adopted a strategy that includes public praise, personal gifts, and symbolic gestures to curry his favor.
Former US national security adviser John Bolton has also confirmed this, saying in a recent interview that Trump is more interested in winning the Nobel Peace Prize than anything else, and that people like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other politicians have found a way to win Trump’s heart by suggesting he nominate him for the prize. He also stressed that these endorsements are more a way to get Trump’s attention with the promise of a Nobel nomination than an actual diplomatic achievement.
However, these accolades are often accompanied by empty promises from Trump or exaggerated claims about the benefits that other world leaders have given the United States, when in reality, such benefits are either nonexistent or very limited.
Focus on personal issues
Unlike other world leaders, Donald Trump has focused more on personal issues and strengthening his position as a prominent global figure in his international interactions than on strategic policies and national interests.
He has repeatedly spoken of his desire to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, stating in June 2025: “If I were Obama, I would win the Nobel Prize in 10 seconds.”
These statements reflect his obsession with gaining praise and being seen as a “historic leader.” His transactional approach to diplomacy, in which he seeks symbolic “victories” and grandiose declarations, has often left his promises unrealistic or exaggerated.
The Modern Diplomacy Foundation recently wrote that Trump uses “uncertainty and symbolic power” to attract attention, but these promises often do not match the realities of foreign policy. As a result, world leaders have found that they can manage relations by praising him while granting no tangible strategic concessions themselves, and Trump’s claims about his diplomatic achievements are often inaccurate or exaggerated.