Trump says he's a great dealmaker, but his record says otherwise: Report

In 1984, Donald Trump confidently claimed he could negotiate Russian arms control better than Ronald Reagan, stating that mastering missiles could be learned in just an hour-and-a-half. Trump championed himself as an unqualified dealmaker, a reputation reinforced by his successful negotiations in business ventures.

However, during his presidency, Trump's promises of quick deals rang hollow. He pledged to end Iran's war in mere weeks, yet brokered a ceasefire that unraveled. Trump maintained Tehran was eager to make a deal, yet this too turned out false. He vowed to resolve Russia's war in Ukraine within a day, which he ultimately failed to do, resorting to Moscow for diesel supplies instead.

Trump's trade negotiations were no better. He claimed he would use tariffs to secure the best deals ever, yet introduced unilateral duties that increased domestic prices and ignited a trade conflict with Canada. Even smaller deals faltered; Trump's plan to repair the Lincoln Memorial's Reflecting Pool for under $1 million ballooned to nearly $20 million.

These business missteps mirror Trump's private sector history, often marked by bad financial bets and bankruptcies. While some of Trump's deals may have succeeded, others spectacularly failed. His negotiation style, often described as zero-sum, saw him seeking maximum gain for himself with little regard for others' interests. His ego and unpredictability were believed to complicate his deals, a sentiment echoed by negotiation experts and former Trump officials.

Yet, amidst these failures, some deals succeeded, including the Abraham Accords and a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas. Despite this, Trump's dealmaking reputation remains tarnished, with critics alleging it hinged more on litigation and lawsuits than successful negotiation.