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Delay, Distract, Deny: The Trump Doctrine of Evading Responsibility

These strategies, encapsulated by delay, distract, and deny principles, have shielded him from repercussions and redefined public expectations for accountability among leaders.

Libby Winkler
4 min readDec 28, 2024
Photo by Samuel Isaacs on Unsplash

Delay, Distract, Deny: The Trump Doctrine of Evading Responsibility

Few individuals in American history have so skillfully evaded accountability as Donald Trump. Throughout his business, media, and politics career, he has consistently deployed tactics to sidestep legal, financial, and ethical consequences. These strategies, encapsulated by the principles of delay, distract, and deny, have shielded him from repercussions and redefined public expectations for accountability among leaders.

Delay: Running Out the Clock

Trump’s strategy centers on his reliance on delay. From prolonged legal battles to procedural obstructions, his approach often uses the legal system as a tool for attrition rather than justice.

In his business ventures, Trump’s companies frequently encountered lawsuits involving disputes over unpaid contractors or allegations of fraud. His modus operandi was…

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Libby Winkler
Libby Winkler

Written by Libby Winkler

Freelance writer who loves exploring the messiness of humanity, while poking around in nooks of life and shining light on all the things that make us complex..

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