Video News Clips: In Their Own Words

‘An Incredible Advantage’: Mark Halperin, Sean Spicer, Ex-Dem Strategist Marvel At Trump’s Decisiveness

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Political analyst Mark Halperin, former White House press secretary Sean Spicer and former Democratic strategist Dan Turrentine credited President Donald Trump on Thursday with rare bold decisiveness.

Former President Joe Biden administration officials told Axios in a Thursday piece that they were awestruck by Trump’s ability to move swiftly and assertively. Halperin, Spicer and Turrentine echoed the sentiment of the former Biden administration officials on “The Morning Meeting.”

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“I think it’s a really underappreciated aspect of Trump, and it was true in the campaign too, which [is] exactly what this says: if Trump wants to do something and it’s a good idea for America, he can just move,” Halperin said. “He doesn’t say, ‘Let’s refer it back to the deputy assistant secretary,’ and, you know, ‘You all decide.’ He just says, ‘Let’s do it.’ And you’ve seen that on this trip in some small ways and then some big ways — like the Syria thing. He just does it.”

Trump announced Tuesday that he would lift sanctions on Syria during a speech in Saudi Arabia.

Spicer contrasted his experience working with Trump with his experience working in government and with former President George W. Bush.

“The thing that’s so great about dealing with Trump is that you’re not — I mean, I’ve worked in the Bush administration and in and around government for 30 years. It’s mind boggling and frustrating sometimes how the process works, right? Trump doesn’t give a crap about the process,” he said. “He’s like, ‘Get it done.’ And that is so refreshing from a make-it-happen standpoint. He gives people a very, very long leash when it comes to delivering. You know, you can hang yourself with that same leash, but the ability to go out there and do things is remarkable.”

Turrentine suggested that Trump’s decisiveness is due to his lack of “fear of failure” in comparison to numerous other politicians.

“My sense is he’s not bound by the fear of failure as much. Like, he doesn’t want to fail, but he’s such a good kind of salesman that, like, he will charge the hill. If it doesn’t go well, he’s going to pivot, he’s going to tell you why it’s good, he’s going to attack his enemies,” he said. “And that front-foot posture allows him to be very nimble and very aggressive, whereas so many other politicians just live in fear of failure and negative headlines … I think it’s one of his better attributes as a leader. Sometimes it goes to his detriment, but on a trip like this, you see it.”

Halperin asserted Trump exhibited the same bold decisiveness when the 2005 “Access Hollywood” tape leaked during the 2016 election. He said Trump acknowledged the tape was an “existential threat” to his candidacy.

“I don’t know that if you’re a Democrat who wants to be a president or you just want to be up against Trump successfully, I don’t know if it’s something you can learn or improve at,” he said. “But Trump has it innately, and it’s just an incredible advantage.”

While Spicer said he had “never seen anybody” perform like Trump when facing likely “defeat,” Halperin and Turrentine said former President Bill Clinton had the identical ability.

“Bill Clinton has the same thing. Bill Clinton was down and out, but he was less decisive than Trump. Bill Clinton would agonize over decisions. And Trump consults, but when there’s a deadline to decide, Trump just decides,” Halperin said. “And again, for those who want to say I’m here praising Trump and saying he’s the greatest thing ever — this is just facts, guys. So understand: it’s just a fact about Trump.”