Publish at May 28 2025 Updated May 28 2025
US President Donald Trump, a polarizing and controversial figure, is making his mark on the history of world politics with his radical decisions, incendiary speeches and populist approach. But beyond the political sphere, his leadership and communication style raises interesting questions when examined through the prism of pedagogy.
In an educational context, the President's practices, both in his personal interactions and in his political decision-making, seem to highlight everything that should not be done in the field of teaching, training and pedagogical support.
One of the most striking features of President Trump's leadership is his authoritarian approach. As president, he has often acted without real consultation, making decisions impulsively and imposing measures without discussing them with his teams or experts. This tendency to impose his vision, leaving no room for criticism or collective reflection, is not only incompatible with the principles of modern pedagogy, it is an obvious counter-model to it.
In pedagogy, such an approach runs counter to the spirit of inclusiveness and the co-construction of knowledge. The teacher must not only transmit knowledge, but also listen, dialogue and encourage learners' contributions.
Trump has often been criticized for his lack of empathy towards others, particularly marginalized social groups, ethnic minorities and women. This led him to reject 500,000 legal migrants. This lack of listening and understanding of different social and cultural perspectives undermines the ability to create an inclusive learning environment.
In pedagogy, empathy is essential to understand learners' needs and help them develop in a safe and respectful environment. Simply failing to recognize the diversity of students' experiences and needs can lead to the failure of educational objectives.
Empathy creates a relationship of trust and fosters greater involvement on the part of learners, which is essential to any educational process.
Another aspect of Trump's political campaigning and public posturing is his manipulation of information. Through his speeches and statements, he has constantly sought to steer the perception of facts to his advantage, often by propagating erroneous or unverifiable information.
In pedagogy, this attitude represents a form of disinformation which, if reproduced in an educational setting, harms learners' critical thinking. One of the missions of education is to develop critical thinking, to question facts and to encourage the thorough examination of arguments and evidence. The role of the educator is not to manipulate information, but to encourage learners to explore, analyze and understand it in all its complexity.
Trump has also been heavily criticized for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, marked by his rejection of numerous scientific and health recommendations. This attitude not only endangered public health, but also showed a profound disregard for the authority of science.
In a pedagogical context, ignoring established facts or denying science leads to the denial of knowledge. Modern education is based on rigorous scientific knowledge and evidence-based learning methods. By refusing to acknowledge the validity of science, Trump is opposing the very nature of pedagogy, which should be based on facts, observations and solid research.
Education should aim to impart to students the skills needed to understand and apply this knowledge in practical contexts, not to encourage ignoring it.
Another problematic dimension of Trump's leadership style is his propensity to divide society and create oppositions between groups. His speeches have often been characterized by direct attacks on his opponents, be they media, politicians or even groups of individuals.His attacks on the press are notable. In education, polarization is a destructive approach.
Effective pedagogy seeks to build bridges and encourages dialogue and cooperation between people with different ideas and experiences. The ability to respect diversity of opinion and cultivate a climate of exchange and mutual respect is essential for the proper development of learners. The systematic division between "us" and "them" prevents the construction of an active and inclusive learning community.
Finally, Trump's inability to assume his responsibilities in the face of crises, notably during the attack on the Capitol in January 2021, or during natural disasters (hurricanes, forest fires) shows a profound failure in crisis management and leadership.
A good teacher, on the other hand, must be able to guide learners through difficult times, manage tensions and maintain an environment of emotional security. Crisis management is one of the essential skills of an educator, whether it involves reacting to learners' emotions, resolving conflicts or rectifying situations of failure. In this sense, Trump's irresponsibility in times of crisis stands in stark contrast to the qualities expected of an educator.
The decisions made under the Trump presidency do not seek to teach, include or bring out critical abilities. When we observe his actions, it becomes clear that pedagogy has never been at the heart of his strategies.
"I just don't get it. I haven't succeeded in pedagogizing my reforms!". That's what we'll hear, and with good reason: it wasn't about pedagogy.
Pedagogy, in the deepest sense of the word, consists in providing support, opening up perspectives and encouraging learning, even in the face of failure. Trump, on the other hand, favors authoritarianism, polarization and the rejection of all forms of dialogue and collective reflection. If an agitated student were expelled for disrupting the class, what would happen to the teacher, who has never set an example in terms of thinking, listening and taking responsibility for his or her actions?
The teacher, in this case, is simply perpetuating a vicious circle of non-learning, an education of division and rejection. Well, all we have to do is abolish the Ministry of Education.
Illustration: orythys - Pixabay
Sources
The Conversation https://theconversation.com/aux-etats-unis-trump-a-lassaut-de-leducation-entre-censure-coupes-budgetaires-et-repression-251838
Reporter sans frontières https://rsf.org/fr/la-guerre-de-trump-contre-la-presse-10-chiffres-sur-les-100-premiers-jours-du-pr%C3%A9sident-am%C3%A9ricain
Puerto Rico: Donald Trump's clumsy visithttps://www.dailymotion.com/video/x9k8ee4
A small fish "scapegoated" by Trump after the Los Angeles fires - Le Devoir - https://www.ledevoir.com/monde/etats-unis/835912/petit-poisson-bouc-emissaire-trump-apres-incendies-los-angeles?
* Me ne frego!" (Italian), translated as "We don't give a damn", was a slogan used by Italian fascists, particularly the arditi, the assault units that helped define fascism.
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