During the 2024 U.S. presidential election, many viewed Donald Trump as the challenger candidate, seeking to unseat an incumbent administration. Now, two weeks after the inauguration, his administration is moving fast, breaking norms, and testing institutional resilience—mirroring the playbook of insurgent businesses.
But here’s the real question: Can disruption be a viable governance strategy, or does it inevitably lead to instability?
In our latest episode of The Insurgent Mindset, Matt and I break down how Trump’s approach aligns with business disruption, what it means for governance, and the key lessons leaders in volatile industries can take away.
Understanding Disruption in Politics and Business
Disruptors—whether in business or politics—identify inefficiencies in the system and exploit them.
- In business, startups like Uber, Tesla, and Netflix challenged traditional industries, capitalizing on inefficiencies and shifting consumer behavior.
- In politics, disruptors capitalize on public frustration, dissatisfaction with governing institutions, and changing media dynamics.
The Trump campaign successfully applied these principles during the 2024 election, and since taking office, the administration has moved rapidly to reshape institutions, bypass traditional media, and redefine governance itself.
The question is: Is this strategy effective for governance? And what lessons can executives learn from it?
The 10 Stages of Disruption in Government
Each of these steps mirrors the strategies used by insurgent businesses to challenge market leaders.
1. Identifying Weaknesses in the Establishment
- Business Parallel: Disruptors win by targeting inefficiencies—think Amazon vs. brick-and-mortar retailers or Tesla vs. legacy automakers.
- Political Application: The Trump campaign positioned itself as the antidote to a ‘broken system’, much like a startup entering an outdated industry.
2. Engaging a Loyal Base Instead of Broadening Appeal
- Business Parallel: Apple’s “cult-like” following and Elon Musk’s X strategy show how brand loyalty can outweigh broad mainstream adoption.
- Political Application: Rather than seeking a broad coalition, the administration has focused on energizing its base, ensuring deep, consistent support.
3. Leveraging Unconventional Media for Direct Engagement
- Business Parallel: Tesla and Airbnb grew by bypassing traditional advertising and using direct digital engagement.
- Political Application: The Trump-Vance campaign avoided traditional media, relying on direct engagement via social media and political podcasts with large followings. Now, from the White House, the administration controls the bully pulpit and continues using digital platforms to shape public discourse.
4. Challenging Institutional Norms for Rapid Execution
- Business Parallel: Tech startups often move fast, ignoring bureaucratic hurdles—but that comes with regulatory risks.
- Political Application: From day one, the Trump administration has prioritized executive orders and direct action, bypassing slow legislative processes. Notably, Elon Musk—a private citizen without security clearance—has been granted direct access to sensitive government data and agencies.
5. Turning Legal Challenges into a Strategic Asset
- Business Parallel: Companies like Uber and Airbnb used lawsuits as marketing tools, framing regulations as obstacles to innovation.
- Political Application: The administration frames legal battles as proof of its commitment to fight entrenched interests, reinforcing its brand as a disruptor.
6. Redefining the Role of Government
- Business Parallel: Netflix disrupted traditional media by eliminating cable bundling, changing industry norms.
- Political Application: The administration is concentrating more power in the executive branch, pushing deregulation, economic nationalism, and transactional diplomacy.
7. Testing Public and Institutional Resilience
- Business Parallel: Amazon’s rapid expansion tested supply chains and local labor laws, forcing markets to adjust.
- Political Application: The administration’s “shock and awe” approach is stress-testing democratic norms, exposing both institutional strengths and weaknesses.
8. Rewriting the Political Playbook
- Business Parallel: Elon Musk and Steve Jobs blurred the lines between leadership and personal branding.
- Political Application: Trump’s governance is highly brand-driven, using direct engagement and perception management to control the narrative.
9. Redefining International Alliances
- Business Parallel: China’s transition from a manufacturing hub to a global tech powerhouse reshaped global trade.
- Political Application: The administration has shifted from ideological alliances to a transactional, short-term foreign policy approach.
10. Assessing Long-Term Impacts: Can Disruption Work in Government?
- Business Parallel: Some disruptors like Amazon and Netflix thrive, while others like WeWork and Theranos collapse due to unsustainable models.
- Political Application: The key question remains: Can governance function under continuous disruption, or does it require stability to survive?
Key Business Lessons from Political Disruption
Disruption isn’t inherently good or bad—its impact depends on execution, adaptability, and sustainability.
- Direct Engagement Wins – Whether in business or politics, controlling the narrative is critical. Leaders must speak directly to their audience and bypass gatekeepers.
- Challenging Norms Carries Risks – Move too fast, and you risk instability. Regulatory overreach in business or government can have long-term consequences (e.g., Uber’s battles with local governments).
- Sustainability Matters More Than Speed – Disruptors that fail to institutionalize their success collapse (WeWork, FTX). Government, like business, requires a balance between agility and stability.
The Broader Impact on Political Leadership
The Trump administration’s approach is reshaping how political campaigns and governance function.
- Future leaders must adapt to a new era of direct communication and insurgent strategy.
- Government entities, like business, must find a balance between disruption and stability.
- The question remains: Is this a temporary shift, or the new model of leadership?
Final Thoughts
Disruptors in business and politics follow similar playbooks. Whether the Trump administration’s approach represents a lasting shift or a one-time experiment, it is testing the elasticity of institutions and forcing adaptation.
The biggest question: Can governance function like a disrupted industry, or does it require stability to survive?
Listen to the full episode for deeper insights: Bonus Trump 2.0: Move Fast and Break Things
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