The ‘Ridiculous War’ and the Strongman Solution

President Donald Trump’s description of the conflict in Ukraine as a “ridiculous war” is a key insight into his worldview. It reflects a strongman’s impatience with prolonged, complex conflicts and a belief that they can, and should, be ended swiftly with a single, decisive act of power.
By calling the war “ridiculous,” Trump dismisses the deep historical, political, and ideological issues at its heart. To him, it’s not a struggle for national survival or the defense of democracy; it’s an inefficient and illogical problem that is wasting time and money. This framing allows him to justify a radical, disruptive solution.
His proposed solution is a classic strongman move: a simple, powerful command that cuts through all complexity. The plan—”stop buying their oil, tariff their friends”—is presented as a self-evident fix that only indecisive or weak leaders would fail to implement. “If NATO does as I say, the war will end quickly,” is the core promise.
This perspective resonates with those who are frustrated by the slow, messy nature of international diplomacy and warfare. It offers the appeal of a quick, clean resolution, orchestrated by a single, powerful leader who is not afraid to break the rules to get the job done.