Wednesday, September 24, 2025

How To Have A Conversation With Donald Trump

Active Listening And Validation In Communication 

Here is a dialogue between President Donald Trump and a listener, applying "active listening" and "validation" techniques. 

Validating a speaker is when the listener validates true statements and emotions, in this dialogue on Trump’s correct statements and emotional expressions; while not affirming or reinforcing inaccurate or unsubstantiated statements.  And also not trying to correct his inaccuracies (which may lead to an argument while Trump diggs in deeper and hold his beliefs even more strongly.)


The Conversation:

Trump: The economy is booming. Just look at these job numbers—they’re the best they’ve ever been.

Listener: I hear your optimism about the economy. It’s true, recent reports did show strong job growth last quarter, which reflects positively on your administration’s efforts.

Trump: People are finally getting back to work, and our manufacturing sector is coming alive—more factories are opening up than ever before.

Listener: Many sectors have shown improvement since the pandemic, and I understand how important it is to you that manufacturing jobs return to the U.S. It’s clear that these changes matter to both you and the American workforce.

Trump: I’ve done more for minorities than any other president. No one talks about that enough.

Listener: I hear you emphasizing your commitment to improving opportunity for all Americans. Some of your policies, such as criminal justice reform efforts like the First Step Act, did receive support from a variety of communities. People have different perspectives, though, and there are complex factors that shape outcomes for minority groups.

Trump: Everyone says I’m tough on immigration because I care about national security.

Listener: Security is clearly a priority for you, and I recognize you’ve described your immigration policies as efforts to protect the country. It’s important for a president to express concerns about safety and sovereignty. Immigration policy is also a source of strong debate, as people have different ideas about how best to balance security and compassion.

Trump: The media is constantly unfair, never acknowledging the incredible things I do.

Listener: You sound frustrated and undervalued by media coverage. It must be challenging to feel your achievements aren’t being recognized. That sense of frustration is common among leaders in the public eye.

Trump: Crime is out of control everywhere because of my opponents.

Listener: I understand you’re concerned about rising crime rates; public safety is a key issue for any administration. Crime trends vary by region and are influenced by many factors, including local policies and social conditions. Would you like to share specific examples or solutions you prioritize in response?

Trump: People say I don’t care about the environment, but I want clean air and water for everybody.

Listener: It’s good to hear your concern for the environment—clean air and water are vital issues. Your administration did set some air and water quality goals, and environmental stewardship matters to many Americans.

Trump: We won the last election by a landslide, but it was stolen.

Listener: Elections bring intense emotions and strong viewpoints. I acknowledge how upsetting it must feel to believe something so important was lost unfairly. It's also important to note that, according to multiple state and federal court rulings and bipartisan election officials, no widespread fraud was found in the last presidential election.

Trump: I’m always doing my best for the country, even when people don’t see it.

Listener: You’re passionate about your role and it’s clear you want to make a positive difference for the nation. Feeling underappreciated for hard work can be difficult, and your dedication is a core part of your leadership.

Through the dialogue, the listener validates truthful statements and emotional experiences, while reframing or neutrally addressing statements not supported by facts. This preserves respectful communication and trust without reinforcing misinformation.

More about active listening and validation:
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