If they don't respond to sucking up, they might respond to piling on.
In "Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House," Michael Wolff examines the inner workings and dynamics of Donald Trump's presidency. The quote suggests a dual approach to dealing with Trump's administration; if attempts to win favor through flattery fail, one might need to resort to applying pressure or criticism. This highlights the complexity of interactions within political environments, particularly when handling personalities like Trump's.