My Unpopular Opinion: People Call It Fanboying. I Call It Strategy

Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a controversial visit to the United States — his first since diplomatic tensions between Washington and Moscow reached Cold War levels. The trip included a private, closed-door meeting with President Trump, a joint press conference, and a series of photo ops that quickly exploded across headlines and social media feeds. Cameras caught Trump praising Putin’s leadership, downplaying past election interference, and offering warm, even deferential body language.

The backlash was immediate.

Critics across the political spectrum accused Trump of being disgracefully soft on Putin. Commentators called the display embarrassing, fake, and even dangerous. Many saw it as Trump playing the role of a starstruck fan rather than a serious world leader. Arnold Schwarzenegger summed it up with a now-viral jab: Trump looked like a “little fanboy” standing next to a strongman.

But while everyone else sees a fanboy, I see a tactician. Trump wasn’t groveling — he was maneuvering. Sometimes power means knowing when to play nice — even with someone like Putin.

And emotionally? I get it. You’re seeing a U.S. president smile, shake hands, and flatter a man whose troops are occupying Ukrainian land and waging a brutal war. It feels wrong. But what do people expect diplomacy to look like when you're trying to get results? Did they want Trump to ignore him? Refuse a handshake? Scowl at the cameras? That might feel powerful in the moment — but in reality, it would be a strategic dead end.

Putin isn’t going to reverse course on Ukraine because he’s scolded in public. He’s not going to consider peace after being humiliated on the red carpet. Cornering someone like Putin won’t force surrender — it will only push him further from the negotiating table.

There’s a clip from House of Cards making the rounds on social media right now that captures this perfectly. It’s a reminder of how obsessed we once were with the dark, behind-the-scenes world of politics — the secret deals, the quiet power plays, the sharp strategy whispered in shadowy White House hallways. We loved watching that kind of diplomacy unfold on screen. And why? Because it felt real. Because a lot of it was real — pulled straight from history, based on how power actually moves in Washington. In the scene, Kevin Spacey’s character, President Underwood, explains how diplomacy often means doing uncomfortable — even repulsive — things, like shaking hands with someone you despise, if it avoids a greater disaster. It might not look heroic, but it’s often the only move that prevents something worse.

Let’s be clear:

This isn’t about liking Putin. It’s not about validating him or agreeing with him. It’s about managing outcomes, preserving influence, and keeping strategic doors open. What happens in front of the cameras is rarely the full story — and often, the smiles and flattery are part of the theater that keeps wars from escalating further.

One more thing to clarify:

I don’t idolize Trump either. I’m not writing this because I think he’s beyond criticism. In fact, I find it frustrating when the media treats him like either a messiah or a menace — with no room in between. Trump absolutely deserves criticism when he crosses lines. But he also deserves fair analysis when he’s playing a strategic hand. That’s all this is. It’s not about defending the man — it’s about examining the move.

So, no — a red carpet isn’t surrender. A handshake isn’t approval. A warm welcome doesn’t mean backroom weakness.

People confuse optics with alignment. But diplomacy isn’t a moral statement. It’s a calculated game. And if the goal is to end a war, reclaim stolen land, or even just avoid more bloodshed, then playing it smart has to come before playing it loud. We don’t have to like the photo ops. But if we actually want change — not just applause — strategy has to lead. Because nothing changes when leaders posture for approval.

Real power moves don’t always look impressive in real time — but they’re the ones that stick.