Analysis Pay attention to what Trump is not saying

Donald Trump's words and actions rarely align perfectly. If you watch carefully, what he doesn't say can be just as telling as what he does.

- Callum Jones

Donald Trump's words and actions rarely align perfectly. If you watch carefully, what he doesn't say can be just as telling as what he does. "Starting on day one, we will end inflation and make America affordable again," he told the nation ahead of his re-election. The US president declared that 2 April – when he introduced his tariffs – would "forever be remembered as the day American industry was reborn", only to pause tariffs a week later.

He promised peace in Ukraine on day one of his presidency, only to later clarify this was "said in jest"; and he has claimed very few people can beat him at golf, only for footage from Scotland to raise questions over just how honest that round might be.

As a reality TV star, Trump learned to bend narrative to his will. As president, this often leaves a gap between what he says and what he does.