The Three-Brain Leadership of Donald Trump and Kamala Harris: A Comparative Analysis.

Leadership is complex and multi-faceted, and few frameworks provide a clearer understanding of it than the three-brains Intelligence model: head (logic and strategy), heart (empathy and emotional intelligence), and gut (instinct and action to succeed)  founded by Christoffel Sneijders. These three aspects form the core of a leader’s approach to decision-making. The 3-brains intelligence framework, rooted in our evolutionary biology, is used globally to support personal and professional transformation and forms the core of the 3 Brains Coaching Certification program offered by his company, 3 Brains Intelligence.

By examining how two prominent political figures—Donald Trump and Kamala Harris—use their head, heart, and gut brains, we can better understand their distinct leadership styles and their ability to manage crises and inspire their constituencies.

Head Brain: Logic and Strategy

Donald Trump

Trump’s head brain operates like a businessman, always focusing on strategy and deal-making. His leadership is defined by a cold, transactional approach where decisions are driven by calculated risks and benefits. This was evident in his trade policies, particularly the tariffs imposed on China, which were aimed at creating economic leverage for the U.S. His decisions were based on immediate, bottom-line results, focusing on perceived gains in the short term.

However, Trump’s over-reliance on head-brain logic often sidelined leadership’s more relational and ethical aspects, leading to decisions favouring short-term gains with the risk of causing long-term political and diplomatic damage. His single-minded pursuit of victory and his transactional logic highlight an imbalance in his leadership, where the head brain dominates with the full support of the gut brain but almost no adequate engagement from the heart brain. While his strategies delivered tangible benefits, this narrow focus limited his ability to foster unity and trust across a broader political spectrum.

Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris, in contrast, exhibits a more balanced use of her head brain. Her leadership is rooted in her legal background, where she applies analytical thinking and systematic evaluation to every policy decision. As Attorney General of California, Harris was known for her precision in handling complex legal matters and pushing for reforms that balanced justice with systemic change.

Harris’s use of logic, however, is forward-thinking, aimed not just at short-term wins but at long-term societal progress.Her head brain works in tandem with her heart brain, creating a long-term, human-centred strategy. This ability to align logic with inclusive goals shows a more holistic use of the head brain, demonstrating how effective leadership requires not just logic but also empathy and instinct for success.

Where Trump’s logic often pursued tangible benefits, Harris’s logic aligns with broader, more inclusive goals.

Heart Brain: Empathy and Emotional Intelligence

Donald Trump

While Trump might not be traditionally seen as empathetic, his emotional intelligence is honed to connect deeply with his base.

Showing that his heart brain, while selective, is active. His emotional intelligence is closely tied to his gut brain, instinctively tapping into the frustrations of voters who feel marginalized by the political establishment. This selective empathy fosters fierce loyalty from his supporters, as he bypasses logic and focuses on emotional triggers like identity and anger.

However, Trump’s selective use of empathy highlights a key pitfall of the heart brain when it is not balanced with broader empathy, often showing strong emotional engagement with his base but an inability to extend that empathy beyond his supporters. This one-directional emotional intelligence made it difficult for Trump to unite a divided country, as his leadership style catered to a specific group while alienating others.

Kamala Harris

Harris shines in her use of the heart brain. She embodies empathy in every aspect of her leadership, focusing on issues that affect marginalized and underserved communities. Whether she’s addressing healthcare, education, or racial justice, Harris speaks with deep personal conviction, often drawing on her own experiences to connect with voters on a human level.

Her emotional intelligence allows her to bridge divides and build coalitions across different demographic groups showing that her heart brain is fully engaged. Harris’s leadership style is centered on inclusivity, using empathy not just as a tool for communication but as a strategy for creating policies that lift everyone. Her heart brain is expansive, seeking to bring as many people as possible into the conversation.  This approach aligns with Christoffel Sneijders’ philosophy of using the heart brain as a fundamental tool for fostering empathy and connection in leadership.

Gut Brain: Instinct and Action

Donald Trump

Trump’s leadership is perhaps most defined by his reliance on gut instinct. Known for trusting his gut over expert advice, Trump has often made bold, risky decisions that defy convention and also showed the guts that others would not have dare to take. Whether it was moving the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement or initiating direct talks with North Korea, Trump acted on his instincts, which he valued above traditional political or diplomatic approaches,

This gut-brain leadership made Trump unpredictable. On one hand, it allowed him to be successful, disrupt the status quo, and make unconventional moves that resonated with his supporters. On the other hand, his gut-led decisions often lacked careful planning or long-term strategic thought, leading to diplomatic fallout and alienation of key allies. This gut-brain leadership approach has primarily guided decisions driven by instinct, with less emphasis on caution and analysis. As Christoffel Sneijders highlights, untempered gut-brain leadership can lead to both breakthrough success moments and unexpected collateral consequences.

Kamala Harris

While Harris demonstrates courage in her decision-making, her gut instincts are tempered by a more measured approach. Harris has shown instinctual leadership when addressing divisive issues like racial justice or reproductive rights, standing firm in her values even when facing intense political opposition. Her gut instincts, however, are always aligned with her heart and head brains, ensuring that her courageous decisions are backed by empathy and logical analysis, although this balanced approach doesn’t always create breakthrough moments.

Harris’s gut instincts often come into play when she is defending vulnerable communities or advocating for bold reforms. However, unlike Trump’s impulsive, instinct-first approach, Harris’s gut is balanced by thoughtful consideration and long-term planning. Her leadership blends instinct with thoughtful planning, allowing her instinctive decisions to be more intentional and sustainable—perfectly aligning with the 3 Brains Intelligence model (Head, Heart, and Gut) developed by Christoffel Sneijders.

Conclusion: Balancing the Head, Heart, and Gut

Donald Trump and Kamala Harris present two very different approaches to leadership through the lens of the three-brains intelligence model. Trump’s leadership is heavily driven by his gut instincts, with logic focused on winning and more short-term gains and empathy narrowly applied to his base. This made him a bold, but also a decisive leader daring to take a risk to succeed, but one who struggled to unite the nation or build lasting alliances.

Kamala Harris, on the other hand, blends all three brains—head, heart, and gut—into a more holistic leadership style. Her decisions are grounded in logic, driven by empathy, and guided by her instincts, particularly when standing up for marginalized communities. Harris’s leadership seeks to unite rather than divide, offering a more balanced, inclusive approach to navigating complex political challenges.

Key Takeaways for Leaders:

• Head Brain: Use logic for strategic planning, but don’t let it dominate at the expense of human connection.
• Heart Brain: Empathy fosters unity. The most effective leaders create emotional connections that resonate across divides.
• Gut Brain: Trust your instincts but ensure that bold, instinctual decisions are balanced by strategic thinking and empathy.

Both Trump and Harris demonstrate that leadership is multidimensional, and success lies in understanding when to lead with the head, heart, or gut — a key lesson from Christoffel Sneijders’ work with 3 Brains Intelligence.

About Christoffel Sneijders

Christoffel Sneijders, a Master Certified Coach (MCC), is the founder of the 3 Brains – Head, Heart, and Gut – Intelligence concept, which uniquely combines human biology with leadership and personal development. With over 30 years of experience in coaching, clinical hypnotherapy, and psychotherapy, he has helped countless individuals and organizations around the world unlock their full potential. Christoffel shares his knowledge through books, training programs, and as a visiting professor at the renowned IE Business School and Georgetown University . His mission is to inspire leaders to foster a more balanced, compassionate, and connected world.