President Dwight D. Eisenhower made an important observation about finding answers to difficult questions. "Whenever I run into a problem I can't solve," the five-star general reportedlyremarked, "I always make it bigger. I can never solve it by trying to make it smaller, but if I make it big enough, I can begin to see the outlines of a solution."
As an example, as Europe's first Supreme Allied Commander, Eisenhower suggested that a problem resupplying troops in Italy might be about much more than simple logistics. A problem-solver must consider the wider map and examine how convoy movements in northern Europe affect supply distribution in the South, whether resources for the whole continent are being allocated efficiently, and whether leadership decisions a thousand miles away might be a more pressing problem than finding enough mechanics to fix run-down trucks stuck in the mud.
Eisenhower'sprinciplehas been passed down over time: "If a problem cannot be solved, enlarge it."
Interestingly, this same principle aptly captures the governing style of President Donald J. Trump. The president became a famous public figure many decades ago partly because of his penchant for going "bigly". He transformed dilapidated properties into prime real estate. He adorned building entrances in marble, crystal, and gold. He acquired historic architectural achievements and placed the Trump name atop them in bright lights for the whole world to see. Both in his real estate and reality television careers, Trump has long had a reputation for being bold, self-promoting, pugnacious, and ostentatious.
For his critics, showmanship and braggadocio are the limits of Trump's "bigness." They see a man who enjoys flattery, celebrity, and the sight of his own name towering high above city lights. What those critics miss is Trump's rather unique set of problem-solving skills that allow him to tackle complex problems in unorthodox ways.
Peace in Gaza. Peace in Ukraine. U.S. energy independence. U.S. trade parity with the rest of the world. Enhanced partnerships with Japan. Economic collaboration with Russia. Economic decoupling from China. Border walls. Immigration enforcement. Military supremacy. Technological superiority. Free speech. Nationalism. Panama. Venezuela. Cuba. Iran. Greenland. The list goes on and on. Although these might first appear as unrelated subjects, every single one is inextricably connected to the rest. Rather than treating them as distinct problems that must be navigated one at a time, Trump looks at them as valuable pieces of property on onebiggame board.
While the president makes nice with China's Xi Jinping and talks publicly about how China and the United States are economically tied together for the foreseeable future, he simultaneously destroys China'sinvestmentsin Panama andenergy partnershipsin Venezuela and Iran. While the president sends emissaries Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and his representatives, he secures a strategic trade deal with Indian President Narendra Modi that could end India's importation ofRussian oil.
While Trump is pushing Putin to halt his ongoing military offensive in Ukraine, Trump isthreateningRussia's strategic partnership with Cuba bycutting offcritical energy supplies to the communist island nation. While the president assures NATO allies that the American military is prepared to defend Europe from any perceived Russian threats, he also fundsfree speech initiativesto counter Europe's online censorship, maneuvers around Europe's "coalition of the willing" tonegotiate an endto the war in Ukraine directly with Putin, andthreatensEuropean countries that get in the way of the United States's eventualacquisition of Greenland.
While Trumpwithdrawsthe U.S. from 31 United Nations entities and 35 other international organizations dedicated to "climate," "peace," and "social justice," he lays the foundations for aBoard of Peacethat might not only bring some stability to the Gaza Strip but also eventually supersede the UN as the most important institutional body working for broad international cooperation and lasting peace.
When Trump first introduced the framework for a Board of Peace to end bloodshed between Israel and Hamas, few could have guessed that he would use that framework as a hook for creating a potentially more consequential organization. By invitinggeopolitical adversariessuch as Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to join this incipient board, Trump is not only creating a new global institution but also forging partnerships among foes. By ensuring that everybody has "skin in the game," Trump seems to hope that national self-interest will promote regional stability.
Source: Gatestone Institute :: Articles
