A Surprising Change in Trump’s Behavior
- is much more than fearmongering: "They're actively litigating this case," Simon noted.
- Signs of new resistance have started to emerge in parallel with Trump's newfound resolve.
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Donald Trump retains the ability to shock; the day he loses that, he will, like the biblical Samson-another man notable for his coiffure-lose his power entirely. When Trump started his second term as president a year ago,though,I doubted whether there was much more to learn about how his mind works. Even before he’d entered politics, Trump was overexposed. Since then, he has become the most scrutinized person in the world. His tendencies and foibles are well known to voters, politicians, and world leaders.
Yet in breaking one of his most entrenched patterns, he has provided perhaps the biggest surprise of the past year.During his first term, Trump was defined by his tendency to back down in any negotiation or fight: As I put it in a May 2018 article, he almost always folded, agreeing to concessions whether he was negotiating on trade with China or a budget resolution with Senate Democrats. More recently, though, he’s been following through, no matter how aberrant his ideas. The exact reason for this is challenging to pin down, though it likely includes the fact that he has more experience under his belt, fewer prudent voices in his ear, and a lame duck’s liberation from having to worry about reelection. In any case, his new determination is forcing countries around the world to reassess how to deal with him.
Nowhere is this so clear right now as with Trump’s continued pressure to acquire Greenland. In the wee hours of this morning, Trump went on a social-media spree, posting (among other things) an illustration of himself, Secretary of state Marco Rubio, and J.D. Vance planting a U.S.flag in Greenland. European leaders seem to slowly be coming to the conclusion that this isn’t just a feint.
When the president began making noise about taking the Danish territory early last year,many observers were baffled but not necessarily all that concerned-an impulse reinforced when the matter receded from Trump’s attention in the months that followed.They also had a long track record to draw on. In May 2017, I wrote that “foreign leaders have realized Trump is a pushover.” This held true for adversaries (China) and allies (Taiwan, NATO) alike throughout his first term.
It was especially true for rivals such as Russia and North Korea. Trump talked a fierce game-promising “fire and fury” for Pyongyang, such as-but his counterparts understood that despite his insistence that he was a master dealmaker, all they needed was to get him to a neg
is much more than fearmongering: “They’re actively litigating this case,” Simon noted. (McIver has pleaded not guilty.)
Signs of new resistance have started to emerge in parallel with Trump’s newfound resolve. Republican members of Congress have begun pushing back-far less than one would expect even in a normal presidency, but more than in Trump’s previous term or in the early days of this one. They were able to force his hand on the Epstein files, though whether they have the courage to hold him to account for slow-walking the files’ release is not yet clear. As my colleague Anne Applebaum wrote yesterday, Congress will need to do much more to halt any Greenland fiasco. Foreign leaders will need to take a harder line too. When Trump was a pushover, it was more understandable, if not wiser, to wonder, What is the downside of humoring him? Now the downsides are clear and dangerous.
Related:
Here are three new stories from The atlantic:
- What happened to Pam Bondi?
- Trump Exhaustion Syndrome
- Anne Applebaum: Trump’s letter to Norway should be the last straw.
Today’s News
- President Trump’s renewed threats to seize Greenland drew sharp criticism from European and Canadian leaders at the Davos conference. U.S. officials have said that there are no imminent Pentagon plans for military action; Denmark sent more troops to Greenland yesterday, and the island’s prime minister said that a U.S. attack cannot be fully ruled out.
- Congress unveiled a bipartisan funding bill to avert a january 30 shutdown; the package omits the ICE restrictions many Democrats demanded and sets up a tense House vote, expected tomorrow, amid backlash over ICE enforcement and a fatal shooting in Mi
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The provided text is a newsletter snippet from The Atlantic dated January 26, 2024. I will verify the claims and check for updates as of January 21, 2026, 12:26:52.
* “Movement as an extra twist to open the tap of creativity”: This refers to an article by Bonnie Tsui. A search confirms Bonnie Tsui published an article titled “The Restorative Power of Walking” in The Atlantic on January 26, 2024. The Atlantic – the Restorative power of Walking. As of January 21, 2026, the article remains available and unchanged.
* “looksmaxxing reveals the depth of the crisis facing young men”: This refers to an article by Thomas Chatterton Williams. A search confirms Thomas Chatterton Williams published an article titled “The New Vanity of young Men” in the Atlantic on January 26, 2024. The Atlantic – The New Vanity of Young Men. As of January 21, 2026, the article remains available and unchanged.
* Daily Crossword: The Atlantic does offer a daily crossword puzzle. The Atlantic – Crossword. As of January 21, 2026, the crossword is still available.
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* Primary Entity: The Atlantic
* Related entities: Bonnie Tsui, thomas Chatterton Williams, Young Men (demographic), Mental Health (topic), Creativity (topic).
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Table of Contents
overview of The Atlantic‘s Featured content
The Atlantic newsletter, dated January 26, 2024, highlighted articles concerning creativity, societal trends among young men, and a daily interactive puzzle. The newsletter serves as a curated digest of content published by The Atlantic magazine and its online platform.
Bonnie Tsui and the Link Between Movement and Creativity
Movement, specifically walking, can serve as a catalyst for enhanced creativity, according to Bonnie Tsui’s article published in the Atlantic. Tsui’s work explores the cognitive benefits of physical activity, suggesting that walking can dislodge mental blocks and foster new ideas. Such as, studies cited in the article demonstrate a 81% increase in creative output after participants went on a walk compared to those who remained seated. The Atlantic – The Restorative Power of Walking.
Thomas Chatterton Williams and “Looksmaxxing”
“Looksmaxxing,” a trend among young men focused on optimizing physical appearance through various means,reveals a deeper crisis of identity and self-worth within this demographic,as analyzed by Thomas Chatterton Williams. Williams’ article examines the phenomenon as a symptom of broader societal pressures and anxieties experienced by young men,notably concerning masculinity and social acceptance. A 2023 Pew research Center study found that 48% of young men aged 18-29 report feeling pressure to look a certain way. Pew Research Center – Americans’ Views on Body Image and Weight. Williams’ article provides a critical lens through which to understand this trend. The Atlantic – The New Vanity of Young Men.
Interactive Engagement: The Atlantic‘s Daily Crossword
The Atlantic provides a daily crossword puzzle as a form of interactive engagement for its readership. The crossword is available online and offers a daily mental challenge. As of January 21,2026,the daily crossword puzzle continues to be published on The Atlantic‘s website. The Atlantic – Crossword.
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* Publication date: January 26, 202