Guest post by Christine Menedis
We’re only one week into Donald Trump’s presidency, but what a week. He may still be an outsider, but this time the outsider knows how the system works.
Freedom, first-principles thinking, and leadership are emerging in ways we’re unaccustomed to. It’s glorious. But also confusing if you don’t know what you’re seeing. Here’s a mental framework to carry throughout this administration.
Trump and His Many Memes
The broader theme in President Trump’s approach is using bold and unconventional methods to advance American strength and influence. A master negotiator, he’ll often stake an extreme position—one he’d likely be satisfied with if it ever came to pass. However, the position is more often a calculated starting point for negotiations. By holding firm, he reframes the discussion entirely, bringing the newly defined topic to the forefront of public discourse. We saw this play out with Greenland when, on January 11th, its leader, Mute Egede, said he’s prepared to negotiate with Trump about the territory’s future. Do we need to own Greenland? No. What is necessary for the geopolitical security of the U.S. is to control Greenland. And that’s now firmly on the table for serious consideration.
Greenland’s location between North America and Europe makes it a linchpin for Arctic strategy and provides a strategic military and economic vantage point over the Arctic shipping lanes that are becoming increasingly important as polar ice melts. The island’s rare earth minerals are vital for technology and defense industries. Whoever controls Greenland controls a critical component of the 21st-century geopolitical chessboard.
Trump’s penchant for trolling—whether suggesting the purchase of Greenland, making Canada a state, renaming the Gulf of Mexico, reclaiming the Panama Canal, or launching his namesake meme coins—isn’t random. It’s a calculated strategy that aligns with his identity as a negotiator and his pursuit of the best “deal” for America. Of course, the showman in him occasionally insists on stealing the spotlight.
If you’re questioning whether this trolling is proper presidential behavior, it is. Very much so.
That brings us to the art of distraction. Of all the aforementioned memes, Panama is a current problem, not just a potential boon. The Panama Canal is a critical chokepoint for global trade and military strategy and is a pressing concern for the U.S. China’s regional involvement is increasing, with state-owned enterprises managing key port facilities near the canal. This raises alarms over the potential for Beijing to disrupt trade or gain a strategic military advantage. The canal is vital for U.S. naval operations and the rapid deployment of forces between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Trump’s unorthodox tactics are rooted in a business-like cost-benefit analysis: What does America need to secure her future, and how can she negotiate from the strongest possible position?
Enter January 20th’s Executive Order titled “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness.” This order officially called for renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America and instructed the Secretary of the Interior to take all necessary action to have the same effectuated by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names for official recognition and usage. As a deliberate distraction, it also called for restoring Mount McKinley’s name, though the surrounding national park retains the name Denali. But this order has nothing to do with names (or nationalism) and everything to do with national security. As the text states, “The Gulf will continue to play a pivotal role in shaping America’s future and the global economy.” Translation: It’s geopolitically strategic and we’re ensuring clear precedent that it’s ours.
Historically, naming conventions have often been employed to solidify territorial claims or project national influence. The now Gulf of America is no different. Strategically, it connects U.S. ports, facilitates trade, and supports the energy sector and naval operations. By rebranding it, the U.S. reinforces its sovereignty and signals broader geopolitical intent to China, whose activity in Central and South America continues to rise.
With the Panama Canal quickly slipping out of our control, Trump is looking four moves ahead. Expect a continued focus on Panama and possibly some direct action. But the president is ensuring we’re not reliant on its successful outcome.
Mexico has been quietly building its own infrastructure of canals, ports, and railways at the 188-mile corridor of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec that (like the Panama Canal) serves as a shortcut to the Pacific Ocean. And, as you’ve likely surmised by now, the body of water on the eastern side of that isthmus is the Gulf of . . . America.
“Okay. But, crypto?”
We can’t discuss memes without the literal meme coins dropped by Trump and affiliates during the crypto ball in D.C. Ever loyal (and always up for a good power play), the president ensured it was his followers on Truth Social who knew about the drop before industry insiders. With one meme, he clarified the legal standard for digital collectibles under his administration, proved that critical blockchain rails are ready for prime time, and signaled that he’s not afraid of new methods of capital formation. This sent a deliberate message to hesitant financial institutions and governments, establishing trust and encouraging adoption.
He didn’t need commissions and months of study. In minutes, the president moved an entire industry forward by years and placed America into a leading stance.
It’s the same decisive action we saw with Colombia and immigration. Colombia went from refusing planes carrying deported nationals to offering their own presidential jet to retrieve their citizens. No task forces, no bureaucratic delays, just direct leadership. The president demonstrated swift action, underscored by a solid FAFO meme to drive the point home.
Let Freedom Ring
Do I like meme coins? Not particularly. But I like freedom. And that’s the point.
The issue we should be discussing is permissive innovation–an environment where new ideas and technologies can flourish freely without excessive regulation. This approach has driven American progress, from the industrial revolution to Silicon Valley. By erring on the side of freedom, the U.S. has consistently empowered entrepreneurs to lead the world in breakthroughs–essential now more than ever, as competitors like China look to dominate emerging industries with state-directed initiatives. Ensuring a permissive atmosphere is critical to strategic superiority and ensuring the future is shaped by liberty.
The president’s memes are entertaining. But don’t miss the first-principles thinking that underlies them, or the deeper theme of Trump’s leadership: a relentless pursuit of freedom, security, and opportunity for the nation.
Trump’s “deals” often reflect a simple truth–the best “deal” for the American people is freedom. Just as our founding documents outline, if only we would honor them.
It’s time we take a page from the president’s playbook and reframe the issues. Take tariffs. Instead of debating market reactions and filling column inches with banal retaliatory possibilities, look at the deeper issue: America shouldn’t need to tax its citizens. The federal government should operate within the original constitutional bounds before the progressive era changed it.
This forces our federal government to confront fiscal realities and carve a path of liberty for younger citizens who could witness a return to a limited government within their lifetime and reap the rewards. And, yes, a strategic Bitcoin reserve plays into this. Issues don’t exist in vacuums, and it’s time to stop pretending they do.
As the saying goes, you can’t pass on what you don’t have. If we want our kids to be free, it starts with us. I, for one, am hopeful that it will.
Christine Menedis is an entrepreneur, early Bitcoin adopter, and author. A former concert pianist and criminal defense attorney, she focuses on empowering individuals through writing and ventures that promote liberty and sovereignty. Her upcoming book is: Why the World Doesn’t Make Sense: Reclaiming the Liberty You Didn’t Know You Lost (Forefront Books, April 2025)
