Why SLE
Trump's public conduct is one of the most often cited SLE examples in contemporary public life. The leading Se shows in physical presence and the use of space: on stage, in negotiations and in interviews he takes and holds the floor, and he answers a challenge quickly and directly. He tends to work from the situation in front of him rather than from a fixed plan, adjusting his position as it develops.
The creative Ti shows in the consistency of the framework he applies. He describes business, politics and international relations in the same terms (transactional, competitive, ordered by status) and applies them the same way in each. Whatever view a reader takes of the framework, it is held consistently, which is what Ti in the creative position tends to produce: a small set of principles applied everywhere.
The business career follows the same pattern. Expansion into property, casinos, licensing and television came in quick succession, and setbacks were followed by new ventures rather than retrenchment. The personal brand, the negotiating posture and the media presence work as instruments of one approach: direct engagement with the situation and quick use of whatever advantage it offers.
The political career shows the same profile in a different arena. The rallies show it most clearly: long, largely improvised speeches that respond to the crowd in real time, with the speaker reading the room and raising or lowering the intensity as it responds. Much of the communication is carried by presence and delivery as well as by content, which is where a Se-leading type is most at home.
Key Works
- The Art of the Deal (1987), book: negotiation described as a sequence of tactical moves
- The Apprentice (NBC, hosted 2004 to 2015), television: a format built on quick, decisive calls in the boardroom
- Trump Tower (1983), building: a physical statement of presence in the Manhattan skyline
See also
→ Full SLE type profile → All famous people by type → SLE vs IEI: the Dual pairing
Typings sourced from Your Social World Explained (free chapter) by Spencer Stern.