ReThinking What Finnish president Alexander Stubb learned from golfing with Trump
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Jun 30, 2026 
Alexander Stubb, Finnish politician, political scientist, and author who became Finland's president, shares vivid stories from golfing with Donald Trump and meeting Vladimir Putin. He reflects on sports as diplomatic shortcuts. He explains how exercise shapes decision-making, why he returned to public life after leaving politics, and why listening and Nordic humility matter in leadership.
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Golf Reveal With Trump
- Alexander Stubb played a full day of golf with Donald Trump including breakfast, the course, and lunch which revealed personality more than formal meetings.
- They played best ball with Gary Player on the team and ended up winning the country club tournament, making the setting low-stakes and revealing.
How Informal Time Builds Diplomatic Power
- Informal settings create networks that produce actionable intelligence for small-country leaders who lack hard power.
- Stubb uses relationships to share information, matchmake between leaders, and stay influential by staying active and trustworthy.
Diplomacy Is Personal And Structural
- Diplomacy rests on two layers: state-to-state interests and the personal behavioral psychology that builds trust.
- Small private interactions can open leaders up and yield far more information than formal public exchanges.
