From Politics to the Workplace: The Danger of Trump-Style Leadership

Trump deported two planeloads of illegal immigrants to Colombia. Mid-flight, Colombia refused permission to land, citing concerns about humane treatment. Trump responded with a 25% tariff on Colombian exports, threatening to raise it to 50% within a week. Colombia backed down, and the Trump Administration declared this a “hard-line victory.”

Much has been written about the political and economic impact of the Trump style, but not so much on the potential knock-on leadership impact on organisations. This schoolyard bully-style approach is the singular modus operandi applied by this administration with regards to all dealings with many, many examples similar to above that could be referenced.

So, will we now see the 'Tech Bros' style extend to other US corporates, where people's livelihoods will be destroyed by email over a weekend? Will we see diversity and inclusion diluted to just a lip service policy? Will Gender equality progress now regress? Will business revert to being conducted in a Gordon Gekko style—greed is good, and win at any cost?

Over the last few years, the emergence of Trump-style leadership has extended beyond political corridors and into the boardrooms and management teams of some of the most powerful companies in the world (some of them were there at the inauguration). Leadership at the national level inevitably influences leadership styles at the business level and, as leaders, this is something we need to be aware of in the next 4 years.

Here are Trump Administration traits that defines this leadership style and how they might dangerously infiltrate and erode healthy organisational environments:

Bullyboy Tactics:

Leadership by Fear: The “if you don’t do X, I will do Y to you” approach fosters a culture of fear, resentment and revenge rather than trust. This style is probably the biggest threat of all of the traits on this list.

Elitism:

The Few Over the Many: Surrounding oneself with a privileged inner circle—akin to Trump’s billionaire-packed cabinet—sends a clear message: exclusivity is valued over inclusivity. In the workplace, this leads to cliques, favouritism, and a widening gap between leadership and employees.

Truth Becomes Optional – Spin over Substance:

With Trumpism, the accuracy of information becomes irrelevant. it's all about perception and narrative control, spin trumps substance. In a business context, this translates to leaders who manipulate data or spin stories to maintain appearances.

Celebrating the ‘Outlaw’ Mentality:

Trump’s glorification of individuals who break norms or laws, such as his pardoning spree, including the outrageous pardoning of Silk Road founder, Ross Ulbricht, normalises unethical behaviour. Translated into workplace leadership, this mindset promotes rule-bending for results at any cost, undermining corporate values and ethical standards. _

Reversing Social Progress:

?A hallmark of Trumpism is the nostalgia for a bygone era, often associated with outdated or regressive ideologies. Leaders who adopt this perspective stifle diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts—essential elements of modern workplace success.

Ends Justify the Means:

From burning good ole ‘clean’ coal for data centre energy purposes, to cutting corners to get things done quickly, Trump leadership embodies a "results-at-any-cost" mindset. In a business context, this can encourage unethical shortcuts, environmental irresponsibility, and long-term harm in favour of short-term gains.

Lack of Accountability and Transparency:

Trump leadership often sidesteps accountability, shifting blame or deflecting criticism instead of owning mistakes. In organizations, this erodes trust and creates a culture where employees feel they cannot rely on their leaders to take responsibility for their actions.

Short-Term Wins Over Long-Term Strategy:

Prioritising immediate gains—'drill, baby, drill’—over sustainable, long-term planning is a hallmark of this style. In businesses, this shortsightedness can lead to bubbles and crashes rather than stable growth and progress.

The threat of ripple effects of Trump-style leadership in organisations is real. We have spent decades removing corruption, cronyism, bullyboy leadership, inequality and exclusion from our society and workplaces. When regression to this old style becomes normalised at national leadership levels, this can seep into the thinking of business leadership. The result could be a loss of decades of progress in areas of social progress, fairness, transparency, equality and inclusivity in our workplaces.

True leadership is about progress, balanced thinking, inclusion and trust. Let’s hope that we continue to build workplaces that reflect the values of integrity, equity, and sustainable success—not a distorted reflection of Trumpist ideals.