Notes on U.S. Foreign Policy and the Trump Administration

Trump Administration Aid Policies

• Discussion on why the Trump administration cut aid and reoriented it through the State Department.
  • Focused on identifying if spending aligned with global national interests.
  • Reduction in funding for organizations like the World Health Organization that provide local benefits but not direct U.S. national security interests.

Public Opinion and Global Influence

• Survey from 2022 on factors that influence U.S. global leadership:
  • 73% of Americans said improving public education is very important for U.S. influence.
  • Reflects concerns about students falling behind globally and its impact on innovation.
  • Importance of domestic issues (education, democracy, economy) outweighing foreign policy in public opinion:
  • 70% on strengthening democracy.
  • 66% on maintaining U.S. economic power.
  • Military superiority also considered important, yet less focus on participation in international organizations (less than half see it as very important).
• Indicates a shift towards prioritizing domestic stability over traditional foreign policy.

Foreign Policy Goals: Public Preferences

• Survey asked about foreign policy goals:
  • Very important indicators include:
  • Preventing cyber attacks
  • Protecting U.S. jobs through tariffs
  • Addressing global challenges like terrorism, pandemics, and climate change.
  • Focus on how these goals resonate with the public reflecting domestic preferences more than traditional foreign policy.

Grand Strategy Approaches

• Different approaches to foreign policy were discussed:

  • Neo-isolationism:

  • Engagement in trade while scaling back military commitments.

  • Argues resources on foreign policy could be better spent domestically.

  • Critique: It’s unrealistic with the interconnected global economy needing military and political presence for stability.

  • Liberal hegemony (Liberal International Order):

  • U.S. power is essential for security and stability globally.

  • Promotes free trade and democracy to legitimize U.S. power.

  • Critiques include high costs for the U.S. and questioning the fairness of allies relying on U.S. military support.

  • No grand strategy (situational foreign policy):

  • Emphasizes flexibility in U.S. foreign policy depending on situation.

  • Critics argue that without a clear strategy, it’s difficult to communicate U.S. values and goals to the world.