Why Redefining Strength in Leadership Matters Now
In this moment of global uncertainty and division, it’s time we start redefining strength in leadership. At first glance, comparing Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump might seem like a stretch—but hear me out. Not because they are the same, but because they reflect a style of leadership that’s doing more harm than we may realize.
Both men speak in absolutes.
Both portray strength as dominance.
Both thrive on the idea that something has been taken—and only they can restore it.
I know some of you admire Trump.
You may have voted for him because you felt ignored by Washington. Maybe you liked that he stood up to China, or that he said things no one else would say.
I get that.
But I invite you to consider something:
What if the kind of strength we’ve been taught to admire… isn’t really strength at all?
The Consequences of Misguided Leadership Strength
We can clearly see the devastation Putin has caused:
War. Death. Isolation. A loss of moral standing.
Trump’s damage may be less visible—but it’s here too:
- We’re more divided than ever. Families, churches, and friendships fractured over politics.
- Cruelty has been normalized. Mocking, name-calling, and bullying are now signs of “toughness.”
- Truth has been eroded. Facts are now optional. Conspiracies fill the vacuum.
- Retaliation is rewarded. Dissent is punished. Loyalty is prized over integrity.
- America’s moral compass has wavered. We seem more angry than inspired—more reactive than grounded.
You might say, “Yeah, but he fought for us.”
And I ask gently: At what cost?
What Real Strength in Leadership Looks Like
We’ve been told real strength means never backing down, always being loudest, always “winning.”
But redefining strength in leadership means seeing something deeper.
True strength looks like this:
- The strength to listen
- The strength to admit mistakes
- The strength to unite, not divide
- The strength to lead with wisdom, not just reaction
This isn’t weakness—it’s a higher kind of strength. One that builds trust, not just control.
An Invitation to Help Redefine Strength in Leadership
If you voted for Trump, I’m not here to shame you.
I know you want a country that is strong, safe, and proud. So do I.
But we have to ask:
Is this really the kind of strength that heals a nation—or just one that wins the next fight?
What Redefining Strength Could Change
You might be wondering: “Okay, Jerry… if Trump—or any leader—led the way you’re describing, what would that actually change?”
Here’s what I believe:
- Instead of dividing the nation to win elections, they’d unite us around shared values—justice, freedom, responsibility.
- Instead of mocking opponents, they’d model respect—and raise the bar for how we talk to each other.
- Instead of denying mistakes, they’d own them—and build credibility by doing so.
- Instead of stoking fear, they’d cast a vision—not just for what we’re fighting against, but what we’re building together.
- Instead of demanding loyalty, they’d earn trust.
That’s what redefining strength in leadership looks like in action.
Imagine what that would do:
- To the tone of our politics
- To our relationships
- To the next generation watching
- To our role in the world
Because real strength—transformative strength—isn’t about conquering others.
It’s about empowering people.
It’s about serving something bigger than your own ego.
This Strength Begins Not Just in Trump, but in All of Us
That’s the kind of leadership we need.
And the kind we must start asking for—not just in Trump, but in all of us.
Shalom, my friends.