Think of it like this: Trump’s moves, like supporting the vaccine or backing Israel, are about keeping certain powerful groups or interests close for leverage. It's like playing chess—he sacrifices some pieces to win the game later. Just like how he was skeptical about Bitcoin at first and then shifted in favor of it when the timing was right, the same thing applies here. He is biding his time and gaining enough support or influence before he pivots to a different position when it benefits him the most.
Now, imagine if he had gone against the vaccine or Israel at any time during the beginning of his campaign—it would have been devastating to the MAGA movement. His opponents would have had ammunition to discredit him completely, branding him as reckless or anti-science, or even anti-Israel, which could have fractured his base and handed his enemies an easy win.
In short, it’s about strategy—making moves that seem contradictory to some supporters but are necessary to win bigger battles later.
If people are interested in understanding the broader strategy behind these kinds of moves, I’d recommend they check out Fifth Generation Warfare by General Flynn and Boone Cutler. It dives deeper into how modern conflicts are fought not just on the battlefield but through information, optics, and psychological tactics. It could help provide more context for understanding these kinds of political strategies.
Excellent post. I have Flynn's 5th gen warfare book, looks like I didn't get as much out of it as you did.