Robert O'brien: An Insider's View on How Trump Actually Negotiates

Former Trump Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs and National Security Advisor Robert C. O’Brien discusses behind-the-scenes negotiation lessons from hostage cases and major foreign-policy deals.

O’Brien describes his approach as implementing President Trump’s decisions, crediting that alignment for successes including the Abraham Accords.

He gives a candid look at what operations inside the Trump administration looks like. Robert and Stan weigh the merits and perils of Trump's personal negotiating style and the effects it might have on the U.S standing in the world.

00:00 Trump Negotiation Style

00:26 Meet Robert OBrien

01:39 ASAP Rocky Case

03:30 Tough Talk With Sweden

05:27 From Hostages To NSA

07:27 Abraham Accords Breakthrough

10:59 Kushner And Internal Pushback

12:07 West Bank Red Line

14:25 Maximalism And Greenland

17:35 Unpredictability And Kissinger

19:48 Taiwan And China Strategy

21:55 Allies And Burden Sharing

24:38 Soleimani And Syria Deal

27:51 Erdogan And Long Term Ties

31:17 Negotiation Skills And Unity

Host Stan Christensen has spent his career working as a professional negotiator in a variety of arenas. He has also taught a popular course on negotiation at Stanford University for over twenty years.