According to a report from the Hebrew group of Tasnim News Agency, Dan Perry, former editor-in-chief of the Associated Press in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, published an article in the Maariv newspaper analyzing Trump’s character. He describes Trump as a selfish individual who perceives everything through his own lens, labeling the American President as ignorant.
This Israeli analyst outlines several key aspects of Trump’s personality to predict his behaviors. First, Trump is characterized as a narcissist, viewing everything solely through his perspective. He rarely engages in political discussions without diverting the conversation to his own brilliance, the failures of his predecessors, or the injustices he has faced.
His long-standing obsessions resurface, regardless of their significance: the false claims of the 2020 election being ‘stolen,’ imaginary slights from international bodies, and grievances over unawarded accolades. For Trump, the outcomes are less important than portraying any result as a personal victory. He craves victories, both real and imagined, as desperately as most people need oxygen. If a confrontation with Iran is seen as an opportunity for him to emerge as a decisive, Churchillian figure, that holds immense importance for him. Likewise, presenting restraint as a significant achievement also resonates with him.Secondly, Trump is an innate liar, but not in the conventional political sense. While most politicians distort the truth, Trump’s approach to lying is distinct. He lies like an exaggerator, not to conceal reality but to create a new one. For him, words are tools for construction. The value of a claim lies not in its truth but in its application. Even outrageous lies become tests of loyalty for his supporters, reinforcing their allegiance through constant repetition. Notably, it is not just the volume of lies that stands out, but his utter lack of shame. Instead of retreating after his lies are exposed, he doubles down on this approach, transforming truth into falsehood and falsehood into truth, leaving no room for shame in this equation. This becomes critical when war threats are issued, retracted, and then repeated within days.
Thirdly, he is an instinctive negotiator. His instincts push him to demand more than he expects to receive, adopting hardline stances, then retreating and declaring victory. These are fundamental principles of psychological negotiation that require little complexity, and he employs them constantly.Fourthly, his political survival relies not on majority approval but on maintaining a loyal base. He understands that many Americans, perhaps most, despise him and will never support him. However, they are inconsequential to him. What matters is the fervent base that controls his party. Controlling the base means controlling the party, and party control translates to greater electoral inequality, partly due to the hollow American system that gives Republicans structural advantages in many states, leading to one of the largest democratic failures in history.
Fifthly, he is known for his profound ignorance of history, science, economics, and international relations. Sometimes his gaffes appear to be deliberate provocations, while at other times, they seem to stem from genuine misunderstandings. He describes the Israeli-Arab conflict as ‘thousands of years’ old, displays geographical confusion, and reveals bizarre concepts about tariffs and trade. In ordinary leaders, this ignorance serves as a barrier; however, in Trump’s case, it can be liberating. Unburdened by details, he improvises.Sixthly he exudes a scent of corruption and rampant consumerism. Over the years patterns of what his critics term ‘quid pro quo’ have been documented: business relationships foreign interests and financial investments tied to his political persona are glaringly apparent.
Seventhly he is detached from values ethics and principles. Trump does not present democracy as a guiding principle and expresses no particular disdain for authoritarian regimes. In his rhetoric the methods of regimes are more pragmatic and symbolic than principled. The security strategy he released in December reflects a departure from promoting democracy as a goal.
Eighthly he is a master at manipulating attention and emotions. At the height of his power he understands that marketing innuendo spectacle and provocation are political tools. His style—provocative imagery and presentation—is often designed to incite anger and serves as bait. He previously released an AI-generated video where he appears as a fighter pilot with a crown attacking New Yorkers with a barrage of excrement. The outrage from his opponents delights his supporters. The very act of breaking norms sends a message. This brings us back to previous points: loyalty to the system disregard for truth and relentless pursuit of personal glory are its principles.
Thus any attempt to predict whether Trump will attack Iran must pass through these eight criteria. He is obsessed with victory and willing to distort reality to achieve it. It is unlikely he will choose a path that harms his inner circle. He assumes he can defeat his enemies and believes in his tactical superiority. Considering his views on prolonged wars and nation-building he will likely avoid scenarios like the invasion and occupation of Iraq for an extended period.
