trump foreign policy: powers of executive

What are Donald Trump’s moves on foreign policy? 

What does it show about Trump’s power? 

Foreign Policy: 

• Chart course of foreign policy 

• signed Executive Order 14169 "Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid” - imposed 90-day pause on all U.S. foreign development assistance programs to conduct comprehensive review - concerns about potential impact on global aid + humanitarian efforts 

• Expressed stuff about wanting greenland also suggests canada becomes 51^st state – not very feasible also bit unorthodox xx 

  • Undermines long term stability and alliances probs 

• Wants to rename gulf of mexico  

• Removed US from Climate agreement/ WHO  

• Sanctions on international criminal court  

• Wants to take over the Panama Canal  

• Threatened Colombia with 25% tariffs to get them to accept deported migrants 

• Threatened Canada, Mexico + EU with tariffs 

FEB 2025 - President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order establishing one clear, unified voice for America’s foreign relations. 

• The Order reaffirms that all individuals involved in implementing the President’s foreign policy do so under his authority and direction. 

• It reasserts the Secretary of State’s authority over Foreign Service Officers, Civil Service Officers, or other staff, under the supervision of the President. 

• It directs the Secretary of State to reform the foreign service in areas such as recruiting, performance, evaluation, and retention standards to ensure only the most qualified and committed individuals represent American interests abroad. 

• The Secretary of State is tasked with ensuring the faithful and effective implementation of the President’s foreign policy agenda, in accordance with applicable law. 

• The Order empowers the Secretary of State to revise or replace the Foreign Affairs Manual and any other procedural documents that guide the operations of the foreign service. 

Policy on Gaza 

Trump says that the U.S. will “own” Gaza  

What does it show about Trump’s power? 

Wants to have more US power across globe, but without the intervention processes 

Foreign policy aligns with domestic policy: all policy have underlying theme of boosting economy, reducing immigration 

“America First” – idea that US has been taken advantage of by other countries 

US COMPARATIVE THEORY: Rational Theory: Trump’s view on how to solve crises: BUSINESSMAN – when he tries to solve a problem, he views it through the lens of a businessman. Very transactional. 

• Ukraine / Gaza: views it as block of land, and whatever way to get the most money 

• Federal Employees: views as business, if problematic employees, just clear them all out 

• Musk + Twitter: runs “well” but at 20% employee capacity 

CHECKS AND BALANCES EXAMPLE: if there are 2 branches aligned in view (e.g. Trump and Senate), checks and balances of government not effective 

• Trump gained HoR + Senate, which meant he could replace Cabinet + secretaires of State with loyal members. Senate control also means he can impact judiciary.  

• Put in 230 lower-level federal judges 

“If they don’t agree, I would conceivably withhold aid,” before meeting King Abdullah