An hour before Trump threatened that Iran would cause the death of a “whole civilization” if it didn’t open the Strait of Hormuz, an Iranian official stated the shipping channel would be reopened for two weeks if the U.S. halted its bombing campaign. The U.S. has now stopped bombing Iran.
So we’ve returned to the pre-war status quo, but with a key difference: Iran can now credibly threaten to close the strait if its demands aren’t met, which would wreak havoc on the U.S. and global economies. Trump’s only remaining leverage is the threat of committing war crimes.
In short, Tuesday’s confrontation was a clear victory for Iran and a clear defeat for Trump, though he will undoubtedly frame it as a win.
The Iran situation is just the latest example of how to effectively counter Trump. Similar strategies have been employed by China, Russia, Canada, Mexico, and Greenland. Within the United States, the people of Minneapolis, Harvard University, comedian Jimmy Kimmel, writer E. Jean Carroll, and several major law firms have also succeeded using this approach.
What’s the common strategy? All refused to yield to Trump, despite his superior military or economic power. Instead, they engaged in a form of political jiu-jitsu, using Trump’s own power against him while allowing him to save face by claiming victory.
For instance, Iran, recognizing it couldn’t match U.S. (and Israeli) military might, used inexpensive drones and missiles to close the Strait of Hormuz and disable other Gulf oil facilities. This drove up U.S. oil and gas prices, increasing political pressure on Trump just months before a midterm election and forcing him to pause the war.
When Trump imposed major tariffs on Chinese exports, China responded by restricting seven types of heavy rare earth metals and magnets, which are crucial to U.S. defense and technology sectors. Beijing continues to use these restrictions as tactical leverage in ongoing trade negotiations rather than demanding Trump’s complete surrender on trade policy.
Russia has used its vast oil and natural gas reserves to gain influence over U.S. allies and has demonstrated its ability to interfere in U.S. elections, as detailed in the Mueller report.
Canada and Mexico have prevailed in tariff disputes by leveraging the U.S. economy’s heavy reliance on their components and raw materials, all without publicly boasting about their wins.
Greenland has used overwhelming global and U.S. public opposition to an American invasion or occupation to curb Trump’s ambitions there.
Domestically, the citizens of Minneapolis and St. Paul organized non-violent resistance to protect immigrants from Trump’s ICE and border patrol agents. Harvard University has defended its academic freedom by leveraging its influence with federal courts in Boston to secure rulings against Trump’s interference.
Comedian Jimmy Kimmel turned a political crisis into a ratings victory after his suspension from ABC (owned by Disney) sparked public backlash. Since his reinstatement, he has continued to target Trump and secured his contract through 2027.
Writer E. Jean Carroll defeated Donald Trump in two civil cases over sexual abuse and defamation, ultimately winning over $88 million in damages from him.Federal appeals courts have upheld several of these rulings. In Carroll’s case, her lawyers pursued a civil lawsuit, which has a lower burden of proof than the “beyond a reasonable doubt” standard required in criminal cases. The jury was shown the Access Hollywood tape and heard testimony from other women who accused Trump. They also saw depositions in which Trump called Carroll a “whack job.”
Law firms like Perkins Coie, Jenner & Block, Susman Godfrey, and WilmerHale refused to comply with Trump’s executive orders targeting firms that had represented causes or clients he opposed. These firms made constitutional arguments in federal court, stating that the orders violated their First Amendment right to advocate for any cause, breached the separation of powers by preventing judicial review of executive authority, and infringed on their clients’ constitutional right to legal representation. The Justice Department ended its legal battle against these firms in March 2026 after federal appellate judges also ruled Trump’s orders unconstitutional.
As for the countries and organizations that gave in to Trump, they have only increased his leverage over them. Europe appears paralyzed, afraid Trump will withdraw from NATO (despite a U.S. law against it) but unsure where to draw the line with him. The ABC network continues to lose viewers while remaining vulnerable to Trump’s shifting demands. CBS, bought by Trump allies Larry Ellison and his son David, is losing talent. Columbia University is torn by dissent from students and faculty as the Trump administration continues to pressure it.
Law firms that complied with Trump’s executive orders have seen lawyers depart, feeling the agreements betrayed the firms’ values. Microsoft dropped Simpson Thacher to work with Jenner & Block—a firm that resisted Trump. Students at top law schools are reportedly avoiding firms that made deals with the Trump administration.
The bottom line is that there is now a clear blueprint for defeating Trump. It is available to any country, organization, or person on whom he tries to impose his will: reject his demands and then use your own asymmetric power—a form of jiu-jitsu—to turn his strength against him.
Robert Reich, a former U.S. Secretary of Labor, is a professor of public policy emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley. He is a Guardian US columnist, and his newsletter is at robertreich.substack.com. His new book, Coming Up Short: A Memoir of My America, is now available in the U.S. and the U.K.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about how to consistently defeat Donald Trump in political contests framed in a natural tone with direct answers
Beginner Foundational Questions
Q Why is it so hard to beat Donald Trump in an election
A He has a uniquely loyal base dominates media attention and his opponents often fail to present a clear compelling alternative that unites a broad coalition against him
Q Whats the most important thing to do to beat him
A Unite the opposition In a multicandidate race he can win with a minority of votes To defeat him the nonTrump majority must consolidate behind a single alternative
Q Do policy positions or character matter more when running against him
A Both matter but character and perceived strength often dominate the debate Voters who dislike him need to believe the alternative is competent resilient and can effectively prosecute the case against Trumps fitness for office
Q Should you attack him directly or focus on your own message
A You must do both Ignoring his attacks or controversies allows him to set the narrative A successful strategy involves defending your record relentlessly highlighting his vulnerabilities and presenting a positive vision for the future
Strategic Messaging Questions
Q What are his biggest political vulnerabilities to focus on
A Key vulnerabilities include his role in eroding democratic norms policies that favor the wealthy chaos and division threats to popular programs like Social Security and Medicare and his legal challenges The specific vulnerability depends on the audience
Q How do you talk to voters who are frustrated but considering Trump
A Acknowledge their frustration without endorsing his solutions Offer a credible alternative path that addresses their core concerns with stability and respect rather than mocking them
Q Is it better to run a moderate or a progressive against him
A Theres no one answer The candidate must be authentic and able to energize the partys base while appealing to the critical swing voters in the decisive states Electability is often defined as this coalitionbuilding ability
Q How do you handle his nicknames and personal insults
