Living in a fantasy: Trump’s biggest liability isn't his lies

U.S. President Donald Trump waves after disembarking Marine One at the Ellipse near the White House, in Washington, D.C., U.S., August 9, 2026. REUTERS/Tierney L. Cross

President Donald Trump’s greatest political liability is not simply his dishonesty or stubbornness, but his delusion, writes The New Republic's Michael Tomasky.

In a Monday column, Tomasky describes Trump's inability to recognize reality when it conflicts with his preferred one. Recent examples include Trump's belief that the affordability crisis is a "Democrat hoax." The other is Trump's delusion that he can make gas prices better and bypass the necessity for Iranian oil by using Venezuelan oil. Trump captured the Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro just after the first of the year. In his absence, the remainder of his government has been largely cooperative with the U.S.

This all mixes in with Trump ignoring public polling about his failing popularity and the consequences of his policies.

First, Trump's belief that he can seize Venezuelan oil and solve the gas crisis isn't merely optimistic, but a fantastical understanding of what he thinks is American leverage.

Tomasky contends that the underlying facts are far less favorable: Venezuela’s oil industry faces substantial infrastructure and production constraints, and that adds to the kind of oil that Venezuela produces, which is tar-like and can only go through a few refineries in the U.S. Any agreement is unlikely to deliver the rapid, sweeping relief that Trump believes he can accomplish by the November 3 elections.

Tomasky explains that Trump is not merely exaggerating a diplomatic or energy-policy win, he is treating a hoped-for outcome as though it has already solved all of his problems. It's different from a politician who might stretch the truth, because at the very least, they understand the reality. Trump is creating his own reality because he simply can't admit his mistakes and his advisors protect his ego over the truth. It's all with the hope that his supporters will follow along with him.

It poses serious problems for the 2026 midterms. According to Tomasky, a president facing weak approval ratings as well as voter anger about affordability would ordinarily try to change course. There could be options to lower consumer costs, offer relief to affected industries, or revise policies that are driving public dissatisfaction.

But, the author argues, "won’t do these things because he doesn’t think anything is wrong. In fact, his plan right now is to make himself the centerpiece of the GOP’s midterm message and to that end will reportedly redirect part of a $400 million kitty on 'television advertisements about his own record.'"

Tomasky calls that record outright "delulu."

First, he said, "the Associated Press reported over the weekend that there are many aspects of this deal we don’t know about. First of all, the U.S. government and 'an unnamed private operator' formed a new company that was given the rights to 17 oil fields for 100 years. Gee, ya think maybe that operator is some kind of friend of Trump? Or maybe that Trump himself has a piece of the company?"

Second, the country's infrastructure is so bad that it will take years to repair, which means years before any oil can get out. Meanwhile, there's a question about who is paying for these infrastructure improvements. Trump claimed it wouldn't cost taxpayers anything, but he also made the same comment about his ballroom and now taxpayers are on the hook for over $600 million.

Tomasky gives it about a year before America finds out just how corrupt the deal is. In the end, it won't do much to help Trump shore up votes for the 2026 election.

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