How to defeat Trump every time

## Summary
All have strengthened Trump’s leverage over them.’ Photograph: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images How to defeat Trump every time Robert Reich Iran, Minneapolis, Harvard and other Trump opponents have employed a similar strategy A n hour before Trump said he’d cause the death of a “whole civilization” if Iran didn’t open the strait of Hormuz, an Iranian official said the shipping channel would be reopened for two weeks if the United States stopped bombing Iran. Inside the United States, the people of Minneapolis have used them, as have Harvard University , comedian Jimmy Kimmel, writer E Jean Carroll and the law firms Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block, Susman Godfrey, and WilmerHale. Now, as to what’s happened inside the United States: The citizens of Minneapolis and St Paul have leveraged their asymmetric power against Trump’s ICE and border patrol agents by carefully organizing themselves into a force of non-violent resistance to protect immigrants there. The law firms that caved in to Trump’s executive orders have seen lawyers exit who felt the deals betrayed the firms’ values and principles.

## Article Content
‘What’s happened to the countries and organizations that have caved to Trump? All have strengthened Trump’s leverage over
them.’
Photograph: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
View image in fullscreen
‘What’s happened to the countries and organizations that have caved to Trump? All have strengthened Trump’s leverage over
them.’
Photograph: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images
How to defeat Trump every time
Robert Reich
Iran, Minneapolis, Harvard and other Trump opponents have employed a similar strategy
A
n hour before Trump said he’d cause the death of a “whole civilization” if Iran didn’t open the strait of Hormuz, an
Iranian official said
the shipping channel would be reopened for two weeks if the United States stopped bombing Iran. The US has now stopped bombing Iran.
So we’re back to the status quo
before
Trump began his war. Only now,
Iran
can credibly threaten to close the strait if it doesn’t get what it wants from Trump – thereby causing havoc to the US and world economies. Trump’s only remaining bargaining chip is his threat of committing war crimes.
In other words, Tuesday’s showdown was a clear victory for Iran and a clear defeat for Trump (although he’ll frame it as a victory).
The Iran fiasco is only the latest in a host of examples revealing how to defeat Trump.
Trump is flailing in Iran. Every word he says adds to the muddle | Ted Widmer
Read more
In addition to Iran, similar strategies have been used by China, Russia, Canada, Mexico and Greenland.
Inside the United States, the people of Minneapolis have used them, as have
Harvard University
, comedian Jimmy Kimmel, writer E Jean Carroll and the law firms Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block, Susman Godfrey, and WilmerHale.
What’s the strategy that connects them all? All refused to cave to Trump, despite his superior military or economic power.
Instead, they’ve engaged in a kind of jiujitsu in which they use Trump’s power against him, while allowing Trump to save face by claiming he’s won. Consider:
Iran knew it was no match for the superior might of the US (and Israel). So it used cheap drones and missiles to close the strait of Hormuz and incapacitate other Gulf oil installations, thereby driving up the prices of oil and gas at the pump in the US, which has put growing political pressure on Trump, months before a midterm election. Hence, Trump has been forced to pause his war.
China knew what to do when Trump imposed a giant tariff on Chinese exports to the US: it put restrictions on seven types of heavy rare earth metals and magnets, crucial to US defense and tech industries. Beijing continues to use these rare earth restrictions as tactical levers in ongoing negotiations over trade, rather than demand complete surrender by Trump on his trade policies.
Russia has leveraged its vast deposits of oil and natural gas in gaining leverage over US allies. It has also demonstrated its potential ability to intrude into US elections (the
Mueller report
detailed a “sweeping and systematic” campaign by Russia to interfere in the 2016 US presidential election, primarily favoring Trump).
Canada and Mexico have won tariff showdowns with Trump by leveraging the US’s substantial economic dependence on them for components and raw materials, but without crowing about their victories.
Greenland has leveraged public opinion globally and in the United States – overwhelmingly against an American invasion or occupation – to curb Trump’s ambitions there.
Now, as to what’s happened inside the United States:
The citizens of Minneapolis and St Paul have leveraged their asymmetric power against Trump’s ICE and border patrol agents by carefully organizing themselves into a force of non-violent resistance to protect immigrants there.
Harvard University’s strategy for resisting Trump’s interference in Harvard’s academic freedom has been to leverage its influence with the federal courts in Boston and the court of appeals for the first circuit, to get rulings that stopped Trump (although he’s still trying).
The comedian Jimmy Kimmel turned a political crisis into a ratings victory by using the public backlash against his
suspension from ABC
, which Disney owns. Since ABC reinstated him, Kimmel has continued to target Trump, and secured his contract through 2027.
The writer
E Jean Carroll
defeated Donald Trump in two civil cases over sexual abuse and defamation, ultimately securing over $88m in damages from him – verdicts that have been upheld by federal appeals courts.
Carroll’s lawyers used a civil lawsuit, requiring a lower burden of proof than proving a crime beyond a reasonable doubt. They presented the jury with Trump’s Access Hollywood tape and testimony from other Trump accusers. His depositions, where he called her a “whack job”, were played for the jury.
The law firms Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block, Susman Godfrey, and WilmerHale refused to follow Trump’s executive orders targeting law firms that had represented causes or clients that Trump opposed.
The firms leveraged constitutional ar

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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
N/A

### Areas for Consideration
- Trump’s only remaining bargaining chip is his threat of committing war crimes.

### Implications
- Consider: Iran knew it was no match for the superior might of the US (and Israel).
- Harvard University’s strategy for resisting Trump’s interference in Harvard’s academic freedom has been to leverage its influence with the federal courts in Boston and the court of appeals for the first circuit, to get rulings that stopped Trump (although he’s still trying).
- Europe seems incapacitated, fearing Trump will leave Nato (despite a US law prohibiting it), but unable to decide where to draw the line with him.
- It’s available to any country, organization or person on which he seeks to impose his will: reject his demands and then use your own asymmetric power – a form of jiujitsu – to turn Trump’s power against him.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers trump, iran, firms topics. Areas of concern are also raised. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 1197.