The World Has Figured Out Trump's Vulnerability—And They're Exploiting It
How Ego and Money Drive the New Playbook for Dealing with Trump
Right now, a clear pattern is emerging in how people and organizations deal with Donald Trump. It’s becoming obvious that if you flatter him, he’ll likely support you, but if you criticize him, you’ll face consequences. Leaders in business and politics—like Mark Zuckerberg, Jeff Bezos, Sam Altman, Elon Musk, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky—seem to be catching on to this, using praise as a way to protect their interests and sway Trump to their side.
Flattery as a Strategy
Trump has always responded well to compliments, and many influential figures have noticed. For example, Mark Zuckerberg’s company, Meta, donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund—a surprising move given their past clashes. Zuckerberg even personally demonstrated Meta’s smart glasses to Trump at Mar-a-Lago, likely to rebuild a relationship that could benefit his business.
Jeff Bezos, who had a tense history with Trump, also contributed $1 million to the inaugural fund and expressed optimism about working with the administration. OpenAI’s Sam Altman did the same, showing how tech leaders have started using financial and personal gestures to keep Trump on their side.
Elon Musk’s Approach
Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has also made efforts to align with Trump. Musk appeared prominently during Trump’s inauguration and praised him for creating what Musk called a “golden age” for America. Musk is even helping to push for reduced government spending, but his pro-immigration stance and control of X (formerly Twitter) have created some friction with Trump allies. Despite these issues, Musk’s overall strategy suggests he understands the importance of staying in Trump’s good graces.
Zelensky’s Play for Support
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is another leader who has adopted this strategy. In December 2024, Zelensky praised Trump as one of the few people Russian President Vladimir Putin “fears.” He thanked Trump for his “strength” and leadership, emphasizing his unique ability to bring nations together. In a January 2025 interview, Zelensky doubled down, saying, “Trump can be decisive. He can help us stop Putin, and we need that.” Zelensky’s calculated praise seems designed to win Trump’s favor and ensure U.S. support for Ukraine.
The Corruption Connection
The growing trend of flattering Trump to gain influence doesn’t just expose his fragile ego—it highlights the dangers of unchecked power and corruption. Trump’s actions often blur the line between public service and personal gain. For example, the $TRUMP cryptocurrency, valued at $58 billion by inauguration day, has raised concerns about a possible pump-and-dump scheme, with Trump and his affiliates reportedly holding 80% of the coin. (vox.com)
Trump’s sweeping pardons for January 6 rioters further reveal how personal loyalty outweighs accountability. These actions, coupled with his rollback of ethics rules to allow lobbyist gifts and jobs, contradict his promises to “drain the swamp” and normalize conflicts of interest. (apnews.com)
While flattering Trump may yield short-term rewards, it enables a system driven by ego and personal enrichment. This isn’t just a strategy—it’s a risk to democracy itself.