How are you doing, on a scale of one to ten? Most of my friends are at about a two, right now, which I’m sad about. I’ve found that reading the newspaper every day and writing a daily newsletter about it (you can subscribe here!) has hugely lifted my spirits. Like, if you could bottle the benefits of doing this, and sell them, you could make a huge amount of money. Now, speaking of billionaires…
There was an amazing story in the New York Times this weekend about Donald Trump lying. Reporter Peter Baker covered Trump’s tendency not only to lie, knowing he is lying, but also, to repeat lies. When he’s called out on lies, he likes to double down on them. The origin of the expression “double down” is from Blackjack, when you double your bet, with only one new card. It’s risky, but it can also double your chances of a payout. I like to do it, honestly, when I’m gambling for money in casinos. Still, I’m not the supposed leader of the free world:
“Mr. Trump, who repeatedly disparaged media fact-checking during last year’s campaign, does not back off after misleading statements and lies are exposed. Instead, he tends to double down, repeating them even after it’s been reported that they are not true.”
Recently, for example, Mr. Trump said the U.S. sent $50 million in condoms to Hamas. That’s a lie! But…
“After reporters determined that the $50 million for condoms story was untrue, Mr. Trump not only repeated it, he increased the supposed total to $100 million.”
It’s unnerving, isn’t it? And yet it’s strategic. Trump has told aides “as long as you’re saying something, keep repeating it.” It’s learned behavior.
The Times reporter spoke to a propaganda expert, Julian E. Zelizer, a Princeton history professor and editor of a book of essays about Mr. Trump’s first term. She had this to say:
“Opponents end up arguing about his narratives regardless of how grounded they are in fact,” said Dr. Zelizer. “This has put President Trump in a perpetual position of advantage since he decides the terms of debate rather than anyone seeking to stop him.”
That’s effective strategic communication, unless it’s refuted. Here’s how you refute it:
1. Say, “Mr. Trump indulged in misinformation, saying X.”
2. Challenge him on it if you’re in a position to.
3. When he doubles down on the lie, write, “Mr. Trump repeated the lie, but with even more significant proportions. This is in line with repeated behavior where he often doubles down on lies when challenged on them. It’s designed to dominate the narrative and force his opponents to engage on his territory.”
4. Rather than debate the lie further, pivot, and move forward with your truth.
It’s that simple. Anyone can do it, and we should all get in the habit of adopting this simple formula to respond to misinformation and lies.
A great example of this working in practice is when Trump described Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky as a “dictator” recently, who “started” the war in Ukraine. That’s a lie, and European leaders challenged him on it. Zelensky himself said that Trump is living in a “disinformation bubble” and then said that any peace deal in the region needs to include his consent. Other European leaders have repeated that line and moved along.
French President Emanuel Macron went further on Monday, warning against “weak” dealmaking on Ukraine, while sitting next to Trump. The pair then “shook” “hands” for six seconds, in a clear power struggle that was not masked by them sharing a laugh throughout.
The way you stand up to a liar is call them on it, call them on the repeated behavior, and then tell your truth, and move on. It’s simple, but it takes experience dealing with liars, and a strategic playbook you’re practiced in. You can do it!
___
Matt Davis is a strategic communications consultant in Manhattan.
