The Presidency Is Bigger Than The President

This weekend, another of those embarrassing incidents occurred featuring Donald Trump. He wrote a letter to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Every lesson of global maturity, of basic common decency, and the most basic of niceties taught in childhood was upended. If you think it is a bad joke, let me make it clear that the Norwegian government has confirmed that this story is real. Here is a portion of the original letter:

Dear Jonas,

Considering your Country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped 8 Wars PLUS, I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of Peace…….I have done more for NATO than any person since its founding, and now, NATO should do something for the United States….

If you feel the need for a hot shower to clean away the stench, you are not alone.

When a President of the United States communicates with an allied head of government, the world expects a certain level of seriousness, discipline, and respect. These exchanges are not casual notes between acquaintances. They are instruments of statecraft. Signals to allies, but also to adversaries who will learn of them. Include our fellow Americans who follow the tone of American leadership as expressed in such communications.

This weekend, I have heard about the improper grammar, syntax, and odd phrasing sprinkled throughout Trump’s letter. I can overlook some of that as I am certainly far from perfect in these columns. But what I cannot abide is the absolutely bad form in tone and style that falls far short of what diplomacy demands.

Allies do not expect perfection. Ask Winston Churchill. They do, however, expect professionalism. A letter from the president is not merely correspondence; it is a representation of the United States itself. It carries the weight of history, alliances, and shared commitments. When that communication reads as impulsive, juvenile, cranky, immature, and even performative, it sends a message that the relationship is not being taken seriously.

Diplomatic communication with allies must be grounded on the bedrock of respect and steadiness. It is not a venue for theatrics or personal sniping and childish venting. When a letter strays into the realm of the childish, it undermines the credibility of the office and complicates the work of diplomats who must then reassure partners that the United States remains a reliable actor.

Norway is not just another country on a mailing list. It is a long-standing NATO ally, a partner in security, energy, and Arctic policy, and a nation that has consistently aligned with the United States on global challenges. That nation did not deserve a flippant, petty, or unserious letter from what we know is a flippant, petty, and unserious person.

One of the things that allowed me, over the decades of my life, to stay optimistic even when a president veered off track or pursued a troubling policy was knowing the president understood that the office carries expectations that transcend personality. In other words, the presidency is bigger than the president.

So, it bothers me immensely when a letter from the Oval Office feels more like a snarky social media post than a diplomatic document. It’s just another sad lowering of our institutional norms due to Donald Trump.