To be sure, I understand why certain Republicans, conservatives, and “influencers” are bothered by the metrics of President Donald J. Trump potentially accepting a luxurious 747 — on behalf of the American taxpayer — from the government of Qatar.

But to those who have questioned the wisdom of the tactics and negotiations President Trump is expertly employing, I would encourage them to read — or read again — Trump’s 1987 massive bestseller titled “The Art of the Deal.”

Real-world experience does matter. Decades of massive business success transformed into a global business empire does matter. Being open to negotiating with the “bad guys” from a position of strength does matter.

It must be noted that there has never been an occupant of the Oval Office with Trump’s real-world business experience nor his track record of decades of hard-nosed negotiated victories. Not even close.

As an example, look no further back then former President Joe Biden. He was a professional politician for over fifty years. Aside from allegedly shilling for himself and his family, he never built a business; he never met a payroll; and he never had to fight for his employees. Rather — until he somehow seemingly and mysteriously became exceedingly rich while still in government — he lived off the money of taxpayers his entire “career.”

When Trump was in the private sector, his question to himself was always: “What is in the best interests of my company and my employees?” Today as President, his first question to himself has always been: “What is in the best interests of my nation and the American people?”

While in the private sector, Trump did learn the value of being open to negotiating with companies and agencies seeking to weaken or even destroy his own company. Not only was he open to such a tactic, but employed it to great success time and time again over his iconic business career.

Naturally, when he came into government, one of Trump’s first questions to himself was: “Why aren’t we negotiating with the likes of North Korea, Iran, Syria, Russia, China or others who potentially threaten our national and economic security?” To not be open to dealing with such “bad guys” made no sense to Trump for a host of logical reasons. Many times these nations have backed themselves into a corner. Sometimes because of their own miscalculations. Other times because they were forced into it by sinister forces.

No matter the reason, they are often looking for a way out and to save face. No one understands that better than President Trump. Knowledge which gives him an advantage.

Back in 2017, President Trump — employing his expert negotiating tactics — publicly said Qatar was giving safe refuge to terrorists. But while saying that, Trump also understood the internal pressures the leadership of Qatar was under. More than that, he knew they were looking for a way out.

Flash ahead to now and U.S. relations with Doha have improved dramatically. Qatar has morphed into a major non-NATO ally to the U.S and is now home to Al Udeid Air Base — one of the U.S.’s largest Middle Eastern bases and a key hub for U.S. Central Command operations.

Beyond that, Qatar has actively and continually inserted itself into the peace and hostage negotiations between Israel and Hamas. It did so in large part because it was allowed to do so. People change. Nations change. And alliances change.

And because of that, just this week, President Trump signed a series of agreements with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. Agreements which mean multiple billions in deals for the United States. All this on the heels or Trump’s hundreds of billions in deal-making in Saudi Arabia.

To those Republicans, conservatives, and “influencers” worried about the metrics of the moment, I say give Trump time to be Trump. He is putting “America First” and he will walk away from the table with the best deal for our nation.

It’s what he does and what he’s done for decades. Win at the negotiating table no matter who sits across from him.

Douglas MacKinnon is a former White House and Pentagon official and author of the book: The 56 – Liberty Lessons from those who risked all to sign The Declaration of Independence. Follow him @DougOfSkye