"Trump Trusts His Instincts More Than Intelligence Reports"

• 26.09.2026, 15:48

A former head of U.S. intelligence has revealed the main risks of Trump's policies.

Former Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines considers World War III a very real possibility if the leading powers are unable to establish new mechanisms for conflict management. She made this statement in an interview with Financial Times.

According to Haines, the international system is facing several crises at once. International institutions are weakening, the number of armed conflicts is rising, and the confrontation between major powers is becoming increasingly dangerous. In her view, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction poses a separate threat.

“This is a very plausible scenario,” Haines said, responding to a question about the possibility of a new world war.

Speaking about the war in Ukraine, the former head of U.S. intelligence stated that Putin used nuclear threats as a tool to pressure the U.S. and its allies. At the same time, Washington considered various scenarios involving the limited use of nuclear weapons by Russia.

Haynes also commented on U.S. President Donald Trump and his decision-making style. According to her, the U.S. president in many cases “relies much more on his gut than on intelligence advice.” She called the decision to start a war with Iran a strategic mistake and stated that such a move had not been properly analyzed at the national security level.

Haines sees a particular danger in relations between Washington and Beijing. She believes that under Trump, Chinese leader Xi Jinping may have more opportunities to secure concessions from the U.S. regarding Taiwan. The most alarming scenario for her would be one in which Washington effectively distances itself from Taiwan.

“U.S. policy has already entered the era of ‘post-diplomacy,’ and even a future change in the presidency does not guarantee a return to the previous model of foreign policy,” says Haines.