1. The Presidency vs. The Bureaucracy: A Clash of Purpose
At the heart of Trump’s attempt to bend federal employees to his will is a fundamental misunderstanding of the structure of the U.S. government.
- The 2 million federal employees Trump seeks to control are not political appointees; they are career public servants working under laws designed to insulate them from partisan influence.
- Unlike private business, where a CEO can hire and fire at will, the U.S. government is built on bureaucratic stability, ensuring that agencies continue functioning regardless of who is in office.
- Presidents come and go, but the civil service remains—ensuring continuity, expertise, and adherence to established law rather than political loyalty.
💡 Key Takeaway: Trump’s desire to make federal employees personally loyal to him reveals his business-world mentality, where power is absolute and hierarchical. But the government does not work like a corporation—it is bound by laws, regulations, and institutional checks that limit executive overreach.
2. Trump’s Quest for Easy Wins Over Real Governance
Trump’s pattern of governance is marked by symbolic, attention-grabbing actions rather than substantive policy work.
- Firing employees, freezing budgets, and cutting programs are moves meant to demonstrate power, not actual leadership.
- He seeks immediate victories that require little effort—creating chaos rather than engaging in the difficult work of policymaking.
- His inability to work with Congress, negotiate bipartisan solutions, or engage in strategic governance exposes his superficial approach to leadership.
💡 Key Takeaway: Trump doesn’t want to govern—he wants to rule. He looks for visible domination rather than effective policy, mistaking power plays for leadership.
3. The Selflessness of Public Servants vs. Trump’s Self-Interest
One of Trump’s greatest failures is his inability to understand service that is not motivated by personal gain.
- Civil servants work for the greater good, ensuring safety, infrastructure, national security, and public welfare—often with little recognition.
- Trump, on the other hand, only values actions that bring wealth, status, or personal loyalty.
- He does not understand why someone would dedicate their life to serving others without seeking fame or fortune.
Why This Matters:
- Public service is about sacrifice and duty. Trump operates in a world of transactional relationships, where everything is about self-interest.
- He cannot fathom the idea that people work for the country—not for him. This is why he tries to buy out, intimidate, or coerce employees—because loyalty, to him, is transactional, not principled.
đź’ˇ Key Takeaway: Trump sees public service as a tool for personal power, while civil servants see it as a duty to the country. This difference is why he can never truly control them.
4. A President Who Doesn’t Understand His Own Job
Trump’s ignorance about the role of government goes beyond misunderstanding civil service—it extends to his own responsibilities.
- Checks and balances exist for a reason. The president does not have unlimited authority to fire career employees or demand personal loyalty.
- The civil service is protected by law, ensuring that government institutions are run by expertise, not political loyalty.
- Trump’s lack of respect for institutional norms makes him frustrated when he cannot dictate orders like a dictator or CEO.
The Consequences of This Ignorance:
- He assumes government agencies exist to serve him rather than the people.
- He attacks and undermines agencies he does not control, such as the Department of Justice, the National Park Service, and the FDA.
- He falsely equates loyalty to the country with loyalty to him, which is why he views government workers who uphold the law as disloyal enemies.
đź’ˇ Key Takeaway: Trump does not understand his own job, the responsibilities of federal employees, or the limits of presidential power. This ignorance leads him to lash out, miscalculate, and undermine the very institutions he is meant to lead.
5. Trump’s Resentment: A Man Who Cannot Grasp Duty, Sacrifice, or Empathy
At his core, Trump is a man consumed by resentment.
- He resents people who work without ego or personal gain because he cannot comprehend selflessness.
- He lashes out at institutions he cannot control, attacking agencies that uphold laws and regulations he finds inconvenient.
- His insecurity and failure drive him to demand loyalty from those who owe him nothing.
Trump vs. The Civil Service: A Fundamental Divide
- Public servants work for a cause greater than themselves. Trump sees service as a means to an end.
- Public servants follow laws and regulations. Trump follows his personal interests and emotions.
- Public servants endure beyond any single presidency. Trump wants instant obedience and sees longevity as a threat.
💡 Key Takeaway: Trump is fundamentally incapable of understanding the selflessness, resilience, and purpose of civil servants—because his worldview is defined by ego, resentment, and self-interest.
6. The Strength of Public Servants Against Trump’s Attacks
- Trump cannot break what he does not understand.
- Federal employees are not bound by personal loyalty—they are bound by duty.
- Trump will leave office, but the civil service will endure.
No matter how much he pressures, threatens, or undermines them, public servants will continue doing their jobs—through him and beyond him.
💡 Final Takeaway: Trump does not deserve their resignation. He does not deserve their loyalty. But the work will go on—because public service is not about one man, but about the country itself.