"Nixon's madman theory of diplomatic engagement involved prompting adversaries to doubt his sanity, leading them to make unlikely concessions. He believed that portraying himself as unpredictable would intimidate opponents into compliance."
"In 1968, Nixon told Bob Haldeman that he wanted the North Vietnamese to believe he might do anything to stop the war, including using nuclear weapons, to force them to negotiate."
Donald Trump admires Richard Nixon's madman theory of diplomacy, which involves creating doubt about one's sanity to intimidate adversaries into concessions. This approach was evident when Trump threatened Iran, only to back down when they agreed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Nixon had previously used this strategy during the Vietnam War, suggesting that portraying himself as unpredictable could lead to peace negotiations. He communicated to aides the importance of making adversaries believe he was capable of extreme actions, including nuclear threats, to achieve his goals.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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