How to negotiate

2008 or so: Iran, declaring itself the enemy of the US is building a nuclear weapons capability.  The US administration under Obama gathers a coalition of like-minded nations and imposes sanctions, then offers negotiation with the opposing government.  A deal is hammered out over years, with the result that Iran stops building its offensive weaponry.

Candidate Donald Trump and the Republican Party declare that the deal is terrible for the US.  Trump swears to rip it up and start over when he’s president, because he’s famously good at negotiating deals.

2017: North Korea, declaring itself the enemy of the US is building a nuclear weapons capability.  The US administration under President Trump resorts to yelling at the North Koreans and whining that other states (China) haven’t done their utmost.  Tension rises.  No negotiations under way.

What happened to the Great Negotiator?

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