Taking Back Trump's America

1. Bad Personnel + Bad Process = Bad Policy & Politics

If President Trump had avoided just a few of these Five Strategic Failures, he would have won the 2020 Election in a landslide.

The formula for failure. The Trump administration was often undermined by a combination of disloyal personnel and flawed processes. Bad personnel, those who didn't support Trump's agenda, were able to leverage bad processes, like the Staff Secretary process, to delay, dilute, or derail policies. This resulted in bad policy, which ultimately led to bad politics and the loss of the 2020 election.

Personnel is policy. The adage "personnel is policy" held true, as many appointees actively worked against Trump's goals. Globalists, Never-Trump Republicans, and establishment figures often prioritized their own agendas over the president's. This internal opposition significantly hampered the administration's ability to deliver on its promises.

Process matters. The Staff Secretary process, intended to manage the flow of information and policy proposals, became a tool for obstruction. Bad personnel used this process to delay or kill initiatives that didn't align with their views, effectively denying the president the ability to implement his agenda.

2. China: The Missed 2020 Election Opportunity

Strategic Failure #1 was, hands down, the most consequential and unforgivable. This was the failure to make Communist China the single most important issue of the 2020 campaign.

China as a winning issue. The Trump campaign missed a crucial opportunity by not focusing on Communist China as a central theme in the 2020 election. Middle America was already angry at China for stealing jobs and spreading deadly opioids. Highlighting China's role in the pandemic would have further resonated with voters.

Economic and health concerns. Running against Communist China would have tapped into both economic anxieties and health fears. The pandemic, originating in China, had turned the American Dream into a "made-deadly-in-China nightmare," making voters receptive to a strong anti-China message.

Missed opportunity. By failing to capitalize on anti-China sentiment, the Trump campaign lost a powerful tool for mobilizing voters. This strategic misstep contributed to the election being close enough for Joe Biden and the Democrats to steal.

3. The West Wing: A Den of Sabotage

Never did I imagine in my wildest nightmares that the strongest opposition to the president’s trade agenda would come from inside the White House perimeter.

Internal opposition. The Trump administration faced significant resistance from within its own ranks. Globalists, Never-Trumpers, and establishment figures within the White House actively worked to undermine the president's agenda, particularly on trade and foreign policy.

Key players in the sabotage. Figures like Gary Cohn, Steve Mnuchin, H.R. McMaster, and Rob Porter used their positions to obstruct Trump's policies. They delayed, diluted, or derailed initiatives that didn't align with their globalist views, often prioritizing the interests of Wall Street and multinational corporations over American workers.

Loyalty to agenda vs. president. A key distinction emerged between loyalty to the president and loyalty to his agenda. Many senior staff and cabinet officials were willing to cross the line, undermining Trump's policies while claiming to be loyal to him personally.

4. The Populist Economic Nationalist's Blueprint

The Trump prescription I helped craft as the president’s top economic advisor targeted four key structural changes that we believed would strengthen and expand American manufacturing and reboot productivity and rising wages.

Four pillars of Trump's economic plan. The Trump administration's economic strategy centered on four key structural changes: tax cuts, deregulation, energy independence, and fair trade. These policies aimed to strengthen American manufacturing, boost productivity, and raise wages.

Tax cuts and deregulation. Cutting taxes for all Americans, particularly the corporate tax rate, was intended to stimulate economic growth. Deregulation, by reducing the regulatory burden, aimed to lower costs and encourage investment.

Energy independence and fair trade. Achieving energy independence was seen as a way to lower energy prices and make American corporations more competitive. Fair trade, through renegotiating trade deals and cracking down on unfair practices, aimed to rebalance the economy and bring jobs back to America.

5. The Never-Trump Media's Information Warfare

This Orange Man Bad, Never-Trump media would run fake news circles around us, thereby dominating the all-important “daily news cycle,” and ultimately leave the Boss to bellow, howl, and lash out on an almost daily basis, even as both his job approval and favorability ratings sank.

Media bias as a strategic failure. The Trump administration struggled to counter the negative coverage from a largely hostile media. This "Never-Trump media" dominated the daily news cycle, shaping public perception and contributing to the president's declining approval ratings.

Tactics of the Never-Trump media. The media employed various tactics, including selectively highlighting negative stories, ignoring positive ones, and promoting anti-Trump narratives. This created a constant barrage of negative press that undermined the administration's message.

The importance of controlling the narrative. The inability to effectively counter the media's narrative was a significant strategic failure. The Trump administration's communications team struggled to get its message across, allowing the Never-Trump media to control the narrative and shape public opinion.

6. The 2022 Midterms: A MAGA Reckoning

We must prove Shakespeare to be as wrong as Santayana is right. Our 2020 presidential election past must not be our 2024 prologue. Yet, if we in the Trump movement fail to remember the mistakes and key strategic failures of the 2020 campaign and first Trump term, we will indeed be condemned to repeat them.

Taking back Congress. A key step in paving the way for a Trump return in 2024 is to win back control of the House of Representatives in the 2022 midterm elections. This would put an end to the Democrats' ability to weaponize congressional investigations and advance their radical agenda.

Electing Trump Republicans. It's not enough to simply elect Republicans; it's crucial to elect Trump Republicans who are fully committed to his agenda. This means supporting candidates who embrace Populist Economic Nationalism, secure borders, and an end to endless wars.

Local action matters. In addition to congressional races, it's important to focus on down-ballot races, particularly for secretary of state in key battleground states. These officials play a crucial role in ensuring election integrity and preventing future attempts to steal elections.

7. A 2024 Trump Administration: Good Personnel is Key

The chance to seize control of and redirect the government of the United States passed us by. It would not come again.

Learning from past mistakes. To succeed in a second term, Trump must avoid the Bad Personnel choices that plagued his first administration. This means appointing loyalists who are fully committed to his agenda and understand the importance of Populist Economic Nationalism.

A shadow cabinet. Establishing a "shadow cabinet" of potential appointees can help ensure that the administration is ready to hit the ground running on day one. This brain trust should consist of experienced and dedicated individuals who share Trump's vision.

Key personnel considerations. In selecting personnel, Trump should prioritize loyalty, competence, and a deep understanding of his agenda. He should also be wary of those who are primarily motivated by personal gain or who have a history of undermining his policies.

8. The Iron MAGA Triangle: A Winning Formula

America became the world’s dominant economy by becoming the world’s dominant producer. The wealth this created was shared broadly, creating the biggest middle class the world had ever known.

Rebuilding American manufacturing. A core tenet of Trumpism is the revitalization of American manufacturing. This requires policies that encourage domestic production, protect American industries from unfair competition, and bring jobs back to the United States.

Securing the border. Strong border security is essential for protecting American workers and ensuring fair wages. Building a wall, enforcing immigration laws, and ending chain migration are all crucial steps in securing the border.

Ending endless wars. Ending America's involvement in endless wars is not only a moral imperative but also an economic one. By bringing troops home and redirecting resources to domestic priorities, the United States can strengthen its economy and improve the lives of its citizens.

Last updated: April 4, 2025