In the old days, before Donald Trump, prime ministers, presidents, and chancellors would go to the Oval Office, sit for photographs and make small talk, and then, behind closed doors, get to the real work.

But with Donald Trump, things are very different. Going to the Oval Office has become sort of a test for politicians. I actually know presidents and heads of government who aren’t too keen on going there, precisely because Donald Trump can be unpredictable.

You never know which version of him will show up: the charming, good-humored Donald Trump, or the confrontational, bad-tempered one. As a result, you must be prepared for both.

And here’s the thing: for someone like Donald Trump, everything is personal. You need to adapt — with flattery and gifts. Visiting the Oval Office is fine, but learning how to play golf might be even better.

There’s a positive side to all this, though. Trump doesn’t seem to really care all that much about the substance or details of policy, as long as he gets something that he can sell as a win and a good photo op. That’s what matters most to him.

Some politicians handle him very well such as French President Emmanuel Macron or Giorgia Meloni from Italy. Other leaders such as Friedrich Merz from Germany or Mark Carney from Canada also did a fairly good job.

Of course, we all remember Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to the White House and the escalation that took place between the two presidents. I must say, however, that for such an escalation to happen, it takes two. It takes two to tango — and two to escalate.

So, here’s the most important piece of advice: don’t take the bait.

PS: Check out my latest video on YouTube where I also discuss this topic.