House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries recently declared Democrats would “fight in the streets” against President Donald Trump. Since then, everyone from “the squad” to “The View” to Mad Maxine Waters has pitched this notion of “takin’ it to the streets” to battle the president. Last Tuesday, they brought the fight inside the hallowed chambers of the Capitol.
On Feb. 28, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy decided to do battle with Trump in his own house!
Put aside the dangers of the violent rhetoric. Put aside the cringy singing, cane waving, and war costumes. Even put aside the fact most Americans are now just plain done with them.
Fight, fight, fight against Trump?
Dumb, dumb, dumb.
Fighting Trump is a losing battle. Just ask Canada, Mexico, Panama—and that’s just last month. Before that, ask the Obama machine, Clinton machine, Bush machine, the Republican Establishment, the intelligence community, the FBI, the Department of Justice, and Big Tech. Ask ISIS. Ask MSNBC—assuming anyone’s still left to answer the phone.
Democrats and Republicans in Name Only have spent eight years fighting tooth-and-nail against the Orange Man. Fighting dirty, in fact. Trump’s been slandered, impeached, indicted. He’s had his house raided and his head nearly blown off.
His response? Breeze to victory in the 2024 election … while enjoying a side-hustle selling watches and sneakers.
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Free Advice to Hakeem
So, I’m going to give Jeffries some free advice: You don’t beat Donald Trump by fighting him. You fight Trump, you lose. However, if you work with Trump, you’ll get much of what you want.
Look at Robert F. Kennedy Jr. He said he’s spent decades praying every day for the opportunity to make America healthy. He ran against Trump in the presidential race, fighting him. Got nowhere. Decided to work with Trump, and today his prayer’s been answered.
Similarly, “Little” Marco Rubio is now secretary of state, and last Friday, he was White House bouncer.
It’s sometimes grumbled that Trump will side with whomever last had his ear, or whomever kisses up the loudest. If true, wouldn’t the smartest move by opponents be to be in the room? Shouldn’t Jeffries spend so much time in the Oval Office they put another button on the Resolute Desk for ordering the House minority leader’s favorite drink?
Actually, there’s a more profound reason why working with Trump gets you close to what you want, while fighting him leaves you bitter, broken, and exposed. (Right, meeting Barack Obama?)
Trump loves the “win-win.”
The Artistry in a Mutually Beneficial Deal
President Trump is a dealmaker. Even wrote a bestseller about it, “The Art of the Deal.” While we tend to emphasize the word “deal,” we need to look closer at the word “art.”
Why does he prefer win-wins? Yes, he is pragmatic and said that “deals work best when each side gets something it wants from the other.” But a win-win is also aesthetically pleasing. There is a beauty to all sides coming together.
How often does Trump use the word “beautiful”? Think how he always describes his first conversation with Zelenskyy as a “beautiful call.” Who can forget that “big, beautiful wall”?
In recent days, he’s called “meritocracy” a “beautiful word,” praised the “beautiful water flow” he opened in California, and promoted “one big beautiful bill” to pay for his agenda. Everything from military equipment to farming to American tax dollars he’s labeled as beautiful.
Look at his properties.
He’s even signed an executive order “Promoting Beautiful Federal Civil Architecture.”
The Builder Trump prefers elegance and order. Not dissonance. That’s why he once called modern art a “con.” And why he didn’t “lock her up” after defeating Hillary Clinton and taking office in 2017. And why he gives wayward leaders ways to save face—if they are wise enough to take it.
You can see this at the heart of his plan for Gaza.
The Brawler Trump vows “all hell will break loose” if Hamas doesn’t return all of the hostages it’s holding. But the Builder Trump vows to turn Gaza into a Riviera for the Middle East.
You saw this in his dustup with Zelenskyy.
The Brawler Trump declared, “You’re either going to make a deal, or we’re out. And if we’re out, you’ll fight it out.”
The Builder Trump declared, “You have a damn good chance of coming out OK because of us.” Translation: “You’ll get all the security you need and more land back that you’ll ever get without me.”
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Will Foes Choose the Brawler or the Builder?
Right now, Trump has the power, the momentum, and the support of the American people to steamroll over the Democrats, leaving them tattered and shattered in the streets they are so eager to occupy. And God knows he will do it.
He also has the power to leave Zelenskyy to face Russian President Vladimir Putin’s advancing army with Uncle Sam on the sidelines. And God knows he will do it.
However, his history and heart demonstrate Trump would find this way of achieving his goals ugly. Not beautiful at all. He would rather his foes get most of what they want.
Trump will fight ugly. Or he will collaborate beautifully.
The choice is up to them.
Al Perrotta is creator of the daily Bananas Republic substack, former managing editor and writer of The Brew newsletter for The Stream, co-author of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration and Hostile Intent, former VP/creative director for All Comedy Radio, and writer-producer for the Voice of America.
Syndicated from The Daily Signal.
