Donald Trump, The ADHD President: Headline Hero, Follow-Through Zero
Donald Trump is the ADHD president: he makes bold, often excellent, out-of-the-box decisions that break through bureaucratic paralysis and deliver real wins—then completely drops the ball on follow-through, turning potential victories into dangerous instability that frequently leaves the situation worse than it started. This pattern of impulsive action followed by total neglect isn’t just sloppy leadership; it’s a serious threat to American credibility, global stability, and the limited-government principles we libertarians hold dear. Credit where due: Trump’s willingness to act decisively, without the usual timid conservatism, can expose weaknesses in the status quo and prioritize U.S. interests. But when he struts around declaring mission accomplished the second a deal is signed, then ignores enforcement, the other side laughs, re-arms, or consolidates power—and America pays the price in blood, treasure, and lost trust.
Consider some examples:
In Gaza, Trump pushed a ceasefire plan with a core requirement that Hamas disarm, later launching his “Board of Peace” in Davos to oversee reconstruction and demilitarization. Hamas never even began disarming—they rearmed openly from day one, mocked the agreement, and the fragile truce has seen hundreds more deaths in violations with zero real enforcement from Trump or his team.
-In Iran, during massive protests against the regime’s economic ruin, Trump drew a blunt red line: shoot protesters and the U.S. comes in guns blazing, promising support for regime change and new leadership. The regime crossed it—killing over 2,400 protesters (some estimates higher)—yet Trump ignored his own line, exactly as he ridiculed Obama for doing in Syria, leaving the crackdown unchecked and the tyrants stronger.
-In Venezuela Trump orchestrated Maduro’s capture in a U.S. military operation on January 3, 2026, and praised Delcy Rodríguez for her “strong leadership” while backing her as interim president —only for this Maduro loyalist to stab him in the back, defying U.S. orders, appointing hardliners like her brother and rival Diosdado Cabello, and mocking Trump’s interference amid ongoing U.S. sanctions and oil deals that give America leverage. —all the while sidelining the truly elected opposition leader María Corina Machado, who was overwhelmingly supported by Venezuelans and even presented Trump her Nobel Peace Prize medal in a bid for recognition, only to be dismissed as lacking “respect” or support in favor of regime insiders. Venezuela?
-In Syria, Trump pivoted U.S. support to the new government under Ahmed al-Sharaa, claiming stability and control, but this abandoned our Kurdish SDF allies—who bled alongside us against ISIS—making them targets as Syrian forces advanced, clashed violently, and demanded they disband or integrate, with Turkey aggressively pushing to crush Kurdish autonomy. This isn’t Reagan-style focused, principled pressure; it’s headline-chasing without congressional authorization, sustained oversight, or accountability—wasting resources, inflating deficits, and eroding faith in American commitments.
Without demanding accountability and enforcement, Trump’s ADHD-style presidency with these half-baked “wins” will keep breeding chaos abroad and debt at home. America deserves leaders who finish what they start—or, if they won’t follow through, don’t intervene at all.