Trump lies and bends under pressure, and now everyone knows it

In Norway, Aftenposten's commentary dissects the communication tactics of Donald Trump, labeling them as a consistent pattern of "lying and bending under pressure." The piece uses the famous Schrödinger's cat thought experiment as a metaphor to illustrate the perceived ambiguity and contradiction surrounding Trump's pronouncements, particularly concerning international conflicts and diplomatic negotiations. The author suggests that statements about wars ending or trade routes being open or closed are presented with such fluidity that the reality becomes as uncertain as the state of the cat in the box.

The commentary points to instances where Trump's administration has declared conflicts over or peace deals imminent, only for the situation to remain volatile. It criticizes the reliance on specific news outlets, like Axios, for leaks that shape narratives, drawing a parallel to a past incident involving a US-Russia plan for Ukraine that allegedly favored Moscow and caused a diplomatic crisis. This suggests a pattern of information being strategically released to influence markets and public perception, rather than reflecting concrete diplomatic achievements.

Furthermore, the article delves into the normalization of what it terms "alternative facts" within Trump's political sphere. It references a congressional hearing where Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. deflected a question about Trump's mathematical claims by stating the president has "his own way of calculating percentages." This is presented as evidence that factual accuracy has been subordinated to a narrative crafted by the former president, who, according to the commentary, operates in a "universe where he has already negotiated peace in eight (or was it nine?) wars." The piece concludes by questioning the solidity of Trump's claims, particularly regarding the 2020 election, suggesting that his ability to shape reality through assertion, even when contradicted by facts, has been a key element of his political success.