The Rest Is Politics: Leading 179. President Stubb: Trump’s Unlikely Best Friend
92 snips
Mar 9, 2026 
Alexander Stubb, Finland’s former prime minister, foreign minister and current president, and an academic focused on European and global affairs. He recounts his golfing rapport with Donald Trump and why premiership felt uniquely gruelling. He maps a new multipolar world: the Triangle of Power, China’s patient strategy, Arctic security, UN reform and how middle powers can shape rules-based cooperation.
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From Hockey Rinks To Harvard Dreams
- Alexander Stubb grew up bilingual, played ice hockey and golf, and nearly pursued professional sports before turning to academia and politics.
- He played a tournament with Phil Mickelson, was a scratch golfer as a youth, and stopped playing for 35 years before returning with modern clubs.
Why Prime Minister Is The Worst Job
- Stubb argues prime minister is the hardest political job because domestic politics makes most of the population want you to fail, unlike a president focused on foreign policy.
- As president he only handles foreign policy, so citizens broadly want success and the role feels less corrosive than being PM.
Democracy Struggles To Keep Up With Social Media
- Democracy hasn't adapted to instantaneous tech and social media, which pressures politicians to react immediately and fragment public debate.
- Stubb says leaders must learn to ignore some noise or build their own channels, a tactic exemplified by Donald Trump.
