Trump’s Foreign Policy Playbook: Less Briefings, More Broadcasts
Donald Trump has never hidden his distaste for traditional intelligence briefings or lengthy policy documents. Instead, the 79-year-old former reality TV star and sitting U.S. president prefers a more digestible medium: television.
In a recent and striking example, Trump’s sudden concern for starving Palestinian children in Gaza came not from classified memos or diplomatic cables—but from the stark images he saw broadcast on screen. And according to insiders, this isn’t a one-off moment of empathy. It’s a pattern that defines Trump’s approach to global affairs.
A Televised Awakening: Gaza’s Crisis Through Trump’s Eyes
From Indifference to Sympathy—Triggered by TV
For months, aid organizations, humanitarian watchdogs, and even some of America’s closest allies had warned of a looming famine in Gaza. Yet Trump, focused on domestic politics and reelection strategy, largely ignored these calls—until late July.
In a press conference, Trump was asked whether he agreed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s assertion that there was “no famine” in Gaza.
His response was telling.
“Based on television, I would say not particularly, because those children look very hungry,” Trump said.
“That’s real starvation stuff. I see it, and you can’t fake that.”
Those haunting images of emaciated children moved Trump more than months of intelligence assessments. Since then, he’s publicly called for increased aid to Gaza—though his administration has not yet executed any major diplomatic intervention.
“I Watch the Shows”: A President Who Governs by Cable
Trump’s reliance on television as a primary policy input isn’t new. Back in 2015, before entering the White House, he famously told a journalist how he learned about military affairs:
“Well, I watch the shows.”
That ethos hasn’t changed much, even in his second term.
A New York Times investigation during Trump’s first presidency found he spent several hours a day watching Fox News, CNN, NBC, and ABC. Fox remains his favored outlet, often setting the tone for both his talking points and policy agenda.
This viewing habit persists today, despite Trump’s campaign embracing social media platforms and podcasts to energize his base. According to Northeastern University journalism professor Dan Kennedy:
“Trump has a reputation for not reading anything… It’s not surprising that he would be affected by images on television, especially since he is known to spend a lot of time watching TV.”
Skipping Briefings, Not Screens
An AFP tally reveals that since returning to office in January, Trump has only attended 22 intelligence briefings—an unusually low number for a sitting president. But this lack of formal briefings doesn’t mean he’s uninformed; rather, he filters global affairs through the lens of mainstream media and cable news.
Where most world leaders are briefed with daily summaries and classified updates, Trump takes his cues from visuals. This creates a foreign policy that is reactive, media-driven, and often uncoordinated—but deeply resonant with voters who consume the same content.
From Reality TV to Realpolitik
“This Is Going to Be Great Television”
Trump isn’t just a viewer—he’s a showman who understands the political power of visual drama.
Earlier this year, his White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky quickly devolved into a tense, televised confrontation. Trump was unfazed.
“This is going to be great television,” he said afterward.
Weeks later, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa found himself on the receiving end of a similar ambush. During a diplomatic visit to the Oval Office, Trump hijacked the agenda to play a video montage claiming (without evidence) that white farmers in South Africa were facing genocide. The video, riddled with inaccuracies, served not as policy support, but as political theater.
For Trump, these moments aren’t blunders—they’re the point. He thrives on the kind of viral confrontation that electrifies his base and dominates news cycles.
The Danger—and Power—of Image-Based Policy
Empathy or Exploitation?
Critics argue that a president relying on TV visuals over data creates erratic foreign policy, vulnerable to manipulation by media producers, and insensitive to long-term consequences.
But others suggest Trump’s approach—while unconventional—has its own political logic. In an era where optics often eclipse substance, a policy driven by TV might be more aligned with public sentiment than one based on bureaucratic reports.
By responding to what Americans see on their screens, Trump positions himself as emotionally reactive, even if tactically unpredictable. And in cases like Gaza, this has meant the difference between silence and a call to action.
What This Means for Global Leaders
World leaders have already begun adapting to Trump’s media-first mindset. The lesson? If you want Trump’s attention, forget memos—get on TV.
Whether it’s a humanitarian crisis, a trade dispute, or a military alliance, the key to unlocking Trump’s foreign policy response lies in visibility, not strategy. As one European diplomat recently put it:
“If it’s not on Fox, it might as well not exist.”
This raises serious implications for how countries engage with Washington under Trump. International actors may be forced to craft their diplomacy as much for public perception as for political substance.
A New Age of Television Diplomacy?
Donald Trump’s second term reveals a world leader whose foreign policy instincts are not grounded in traditional channels of governance. Instead, he treats television as both a source of truth and a stage for influence. And as Gaza’s crisis shows, a single image can break through months of silence—at least until the channel changes.
