National Security

Trump Has Gone From Unpredictable to Unreliable

Allies and rivals alike are less likely to give the president what he seeks.

First published in The Atlantic on May 11, 2026.

by Vivian Salama, The Atlantic

May 21, 2026 | reading time: 9 Min.

In July, on the manicured grounds of President Trump’s Turnberry golf resort in Scotland, the Trump administration struck a trade deal with the European Union. The agreement—centered on a 15 percent tariff on most European exports—was an uneasy compromise designed to avoid a bigger clash.