Many politicians, however, appear accountable to Trump — and that’s led to odd political considerations.

“The politics of it are really weird,” said Green. “If President Obama had done this, some of the same people who are praising the president would have just savaged him.”

Arend has similar thoughts. “I suspect that there are some…Republicans who might have opposed an Obama engaging these negotiations, or a Hillary Clinton,” Arend said. He added, “I’m loath to say who these people might be.”