President Donald Trump has launched an ambitious effort to scale back the United States’ role in the world, based on his “America First” agenda. This approach marks a significant shift from the decades-long American commitment to global institutions and international order established after World War II.
Trump’s doctrine, outlined in 1947 by President Harry Truman, stated that it was U.S. policy to support free peoples resisting subjugation by armed minorities or outside pressure. Since then, the U.S. has played a leading role in shaping the modern global order through institutions like the United Nations, NATO, and international financial organizations.
However, Trump views these alliances as expensive and outdated relics that restrain America’s ability to act decisively on its own. He believes the U.S. should not be the world’s policeman and should not guarantee the security of its allies. Instead, he wants to extract more privileges from the international order while bearing fewer responsibilities for upholding them.
Trump has taken a sledgehammer approach to foreign policy, scaling back military commitments in open-ended wars like Ukraine. He opposes further U.S. military assistance for Ukraine, citing concerns about overestimating Ukrainian military capabilities and underestimating Russian adversaries.
On the diplomatic front, Trump is pursuing several high-stakes deals, including negotiations with Iran on a nuclear agreement. However, his approach has been criticized for being too unilateral and bullying, often overlooking the importance of international cooperation and input from allies.
As foreign policy analysts debate how to update the modern global order, Trump’s “America First” agenda raises questions about the U.S. willingness and ability to shoulder the burden it has since World War II. If the U.S. abandons its role as a global public goods provider, no other country can replace it.
Experts warn that if Trump succeeds in scaling back the U.S.’s global influence, it could lead to instability in international relations and undermine the institutions that have maintained peace for decades. The future of NATO and European security hangs in the balance, with many countries reevaluating their dependence on the United States.
Source: https://www.npr.org/2025/05/01/nx-s1-5369457/truman-trump-foreign-policy