The Art of The Deal

This work attempts to understand the chaotic and enigmatic presidency of Donald Trump through Neustadt’s iconic work on presidential power and bargaining. Neustadt’s model explains much of Trump’s difficulties in office, but not his relative success. It argues he defies expectation due to new political realities such as party polarization, a transformed media, and the administrative presidency.

This work attempts to understand the chaotic and enigmatic presidency of Donald Trump through Neustadt’s iconic work on presidential power and bargaining. Neustadt’s model explains much of Trump’s difficulties in office, but not his relative success. It argues he defies expectation due to new political realities such as party polarization, a transformed media, and the administrative presidency.