Donald Trump made a number of key strategic decisions during his election campaign. Contrary to the common view that his campaign was marked by incompetence and dysfunction, there is considerable evidence that he made adroit decisions at key times. These were overlooked and dismissed by his political opponents to their ultimate disadvantage and defeat. If the Democratic Party hopes to take back the White House in four years' time, and the wider world wants to understand the 'Trump phenomenon', it is imperative that we look at the logical thread that underlies Trump's seemingly irrational behaviour.