Chris Voss isn’t just another talking head. He’s a former FBI hostage negotiator, author of Never Split the Difference, and a man who has spent his career staring down people holding lives in their hands. When he talks about negotiation, it isn’t theory—it’s survival.
In August 2025, Voss sat down with The New York Times and dropped a line that still rings: Donald Trump’s secret weapon is “tactical empathy.”
What Voss Means by Tactical Empathy
Now, don’t confuse this with the Hallmark-card version of empathy. Voss is quick to say his use of the word has nothing to do with “soft, spongy” feelings. He calls it a tool—a skill. It’s the ability to understand how someone else sees the world without needing to agree with them. It’s not sympathy, and it’s not compassion.
Think of it like tactical breathing. To a Navy SEAL, “yoga breathing” sounds ridiculous. Call it tactical breathing, and suddenly it’s life-saving discipline. Voss did the same with empathy—gave it sharper edges, made it sound operational.
Trump’s Application of the Concept
According to Voss, Trump does this instinctively. He has a knack for reading the way others perceive situations and then exploiting that understanding to his own advantage. One example Voss gave: when Trump ordered strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites but stopped short of killing the Iranian leader. For Voss, this showed Trump recognized that assassinating a head of state could trigger “open season” on world leaders. That’s tactical empathy at work—understanding the other side’s perspective without embracing it.
The Counterpoint: Bullying Masquerading as Negotiation
But here’s where the conversation splits. While Voss highlights Trump’s ability to deploy this skill, others see a much darker pattern.
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High-leverage demands: Psychology Today has pointed out Trump’s “door-in-the-face” style—asking for the moon, then working back to what he actually wants. It’s effective at times, but just as often comes across as bullying.
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Ultimatums over compromise: The Associated Press has catalogued his reliance on threats and ultimatums. This is less negotiation than strong-arming.
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Poor relational ethics: Negotiation experts like Marty Latz have been blunt: Trump’s approach is “win-lose,” fueled by impulsiveness, bullying, and a flexible relationship with truth.
And let’s not forget the research. Decades of psychological studies tie Trump and his supporters to lower levels of emotional empathy, with spikes in more malevolent traits.
Where This Leaves Us
So, is tactical empathy really Trump’s secret weapon—or just Voss’s charitable interpretation of a man whose methods often leave scorched earth behind?
I’d argue both can be true. Trump may indeed use a form of tactical empathy, but let’s be clear: empathy stripped of ethics becomes manipulation. When you understand another person only to bend or break them, that isn’t strength. It’s exploitation.
And America, frankly, has paid the price.
Cheers! Sláinte! Na zdravie!Compiled with aid of ChatGPT
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