NYTimes analysis of the Cabinet's flattery of Trump during meetings. "wouldn't be possible if not for your leadership" [View all]

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2026/us/politics/trump-cabinet-meetings.html?unlocked_article_code=1.lVA.YZ_S.ex2Cif96jvE5&smid=url-share

Marathon cabinet meetings, lasting one to three hours, have become a hallmark of Mr. Trump’s second presidency. Often televised, they provide an opportunity for cabinet officials to credit him for their department’s accomplishments while still trying to claim some of the spotlight for themselves.

“Only” Trump
Russia-Ukraine war Rubio: And there’s only one leader in the world that’s capable of bringing the two sides to a table, and that’s our president, the president of the United States, President Trump.

Russia-Ukraine war Rubio: And — and I think that the country owes you a great debt of gratitude and the world, really, because I mean you’re the only leader in the planet that can bring the two sides together to bring an end to this conflict, and that's what you've done, and you've done it despite, you know, impediments from other countries and others who maybe have different opinions about how this should go. But ultimately, I think that the only chance we have for peace is through the president’s leadership, and you’ve shown that.

Cambodia-Thailand conflict Rubio: The president just picks up the phone and tells them to stop fighting. And within 72 hours, the fighting had stopped. There’s no other leader in the world that could have done it.

Israel-Gaza conflict Rubio: But suffice it to say, it’s not an exaggeration that none of it would have been possible without the president of the United States being involved.

Israel-Gaza conflict Rubio: And because of the work you put in — and honestly there is no — not only is there no other leader in the world that could have put this together, Mr. President.

Israel-Gaza conflict Rubio: No other leader in the world could have pulled off what happened in Gaza. But this war is going on, and the president is trying to end it not because — listen, we've got a million things to focus on in the world as a country, but he's the only leader in the world that can help end it.

Sudan civil war Rubio: The president’s taken on this issue of Sudan personally, not send out deputies to do it. Again, far away from the United States because he’s the only leader in the world that can bring it about to an end.

Leadership Burgum: And it’s your fearlessness to take on the issues that other presidents would not touch, whether it's the work that we're doing with successfully streamlining and right-sizing government or whether it's taking on the issues at the border or whether it's embracing the power we need to win the arms race, you're fearlessly doing that.

Energy Burgum: You’re perhaps one of the only leaders in the world that understood the connection between peace abroad and prosperity at home was directly connected to energy policy.

Israel-Gaza conflict Burgum: It's such a remarkable accomplishment — agree that no other president could have done this.

Immigration Hegseth: It only happens with President Trump leading, and we're proud to be a part of what's going on at the border, sir, with now a fourth national defense area where we're helping get to that number zero in securing the border.

Military recruitment Hegseth: In fact, re-enlistment is already met its yearlong goal in the Marine Corps in 2026. You can’t — there’s no other way to create that kind of love and enthusiasm than with your leadership, sir.

Venezuela operation Hegseth: No other president would have been willing to empower those warriors that way to be that effective.

Healthcare Kennedy: M.F.N. is one of our greatest accomplishments. It would not have happened without you.

Job creation Lutnick: And this is all driven by your tariff policies. No chance this’d be happening without you.

Trade deals Lutnick: We invented the lightbulb, the transistor, the G.P.U., so they keep buying us. And the only president to ever to understand it, and you understood it in the ’80s and the ’90s.

Job creation Lutnick: We’ve got $165 billion for TSMC, but you're going to watch the whole ecosystem come home because Donald Trump is the only president who understands.

Artificial Intelligence Wright: If you had not won the election, we would not have won the A.I. race.

Energy Wright: There are a number of stations in the heartland of America with $1.99 signs flying today. That’s simply impossible without the leadership and changes you’ve brought.

War Zeldin: And we have never had a president so deeply committed towards ending foreign wars instead of starting new ones.
Economy Zeldin: What we are accomplishing now, again, wouldn’t be possible if not for your leadership.

Trade deals Greer: That’s who’s coming in to talk to you and to your advisers about how to have reciprocal trade, how to have fair trade. It wouldn’t have happened without you.

Trade deals Greer: Now we have the tariffs, and they have lowered their nontariff barriers. We couldn't have done it without you and the leverage you've created.


Notably, some of these talking points are traceable to Mr. Trump himself.