After Zelensky, it's Powell's turn, as Trump stages the highest-end "reality show"

Trump is gaining an advantage by catching opponents off guard and putting them in a difficult position with his unexpected tactics.

From making Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky lose his composure, to playing a controversial video for South African President, and suddenly visiting the Federal Reserve to publicly question Chairman Jerome Powell, Trump seems to be turning diplomatic negotiations into a public performance akin to a reality show.

The latest example occurred on Thursday when Trump made an unannounced visit to the Federal Reserve headquarters, pulling a piece of paper from his pocket in front of the cameras to accuse the Federal Reserve of overspending on the renovation of its Washington building. This move aims to publicly pressure Powell to lower interest rates and undermine the authority of the Fed Chairman.

This "camera ambush" tactic has had unexpected consequences. Zelensky lost his cool after being pressured by Vice President Kamala Harris and Trump, leading to a rift in U.S.-Ukraine relations that took weeks to mend. The video Trump showed to the South African President also sparked controversy over the inaccuracies of the White House video content.

Trump's "Camera Tactics": Awkward Moments from Zelensky to Powell

Trump employs this technique on officials who are accustomed to maintaining politeness in public settings. Through "camera tactics," Trump excels at putting others in a bind, forcing them to either think quickly or respond in a way that could give him an advantage or new insights.

According to media reports, a former government official who worked with Trump for many years stated that these actions stem from Trump's "instinctive sense" of meetings. When meeting with foreign leaders, Trump would familiarize himself with the briefing materials in advance and then "ambush" his opponents in front of the cameras to expose their weaknesses, thereby gaining a negotiating advantage.

A current White House official also told the media that such unexpected content design is actually intended to enhance transparency and give the public a glimpse behind the scenes.

World Leaders Begin to Learn Coping Strategies

Realizing that Trump could unexpectedly put them in a bind, world leaders have started exchanging advice on how to handle the situation.

After Trump "spontaneously" invited the media to a private lunch with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the latter subsequently shared advice with her European colleagues on being prepared for "unexpected situations."

However, not everyone is ready for Trump's ambush tactics.

In April of this year, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer was unexpectedly brought into the Oval Office by White House aides while Trump was signing an executive order to investigate political critics in front of a room full of reporters. The Democratic star tried to hide behind a binder, but Trump insisted she speak.

Whitmer stated in an interview:

"I thought it was a one-on-one meeting, but quickly realized that was not the case when I walked into the room."

Whitmer mentioned that she briefly left the Oval Office for crisis management and told her staff she did not want to be associated with Trump's executive order