Trump's Foreign Policy Doctrine

An Analysis of "America First" as Grand Strategy

Donald Trump's foreign policy approach does exhibit elements of a doctrine or grand strategy, though it is unconventional, personality-driven, and often described as "transactional" rather than based on traditional international relations theory.

"America First" as a Grand Strategic Framework

Trump's overarching theme is "America First," which seeks to reorient U.S. foreign policy away from liberal internationalism and toward a narrowly defined conception of national interest.

Rejecting Primacy

Trump and officials argued that the post-WWII liberal international order is "obsolete" and has been weaponized against U.S. interests.

Economic Prioritization

The focus is on restoring American economic prominence as the foundation for global influence, with an emphasis on bilateral trade deals and tariffs.

Skepticism of Alliances

Trump views multilateral institutions as constraints on U.S. autonomy and vehicles for free-riding by allies.

Transactionalism as an Operating Principle

Trump's approach is intensely transactional, treating international relations as a series of deals rather than a system governed by norms or theory.

•Deal-Making Over Ideology: Policies are evaluated based on immediate, tangible benefits to the U.S., not ideological consistency. •Personalized Diplomacy: Reliance on personal relationships and family members as emissaries, bypassing traditional diplomatic channels. •Unpredictability as Leverage: Deliberate unpredictability and bellicosity are used to keep adversaries and allies off-balance.

Personal Diplomacy in Action

Trump engaged in unprecedented face-to-face meetings with Kim Jong-un, but these efforts failed to achieve denuclearization, as Kim refused to surrender his nuclear program.

Identification of Principal Adversaries

The Trump doctrine explicitly prioritizes certain threats and approaches to dealing with them:

Adversary	Perceived Threat	Trump's Approach
China	Framed as an existential and even "spiritual" adversary	Tariffs, intellectual property confrontations, pivot away from secondary conflicts
Iran	Regional threat to allies	Sanctions, military strikes, isolation efforts
Russia	Disruptive power but not primary focus	Mix of engagement and containment rather than ideological confrontation

Military Restraint and Selective Force

Trump's military policy combines rhetorical bellicosity with operational caution:

•Avoidance of Prolonged Wars: Resisted escalation in Iran and Afghanistan despite opportunities. •Calculated Strikes: Uses limited, dramatic military actions to signal resolve and compel diplomacy. •Burden-Shifting: Pressures allies to assume more defense responsibilities while reducing direct U.S. military commitments.

"Trump's military policy combines rhetorical bellicosity with operational caution, avoiding prolonged engagements while using dramatic strikes to signal resolve."

Ideological and Cultural Underpinnings

Trump's strategy is infused with cultural and ideological themes:

American Exceptionalism

Vision of the U.S. as "the most dominant civilization ever," tied to a theological worldview that frames great-power competition as a metaphysical struggle.

Populist Critique of Elites

Rejection of the foreign policy establishment ("the blob") and international norms as elitist and detrimental to U.S. interests.

Contradictions and Lack of Cohesion

Despite these elements, Trump's approach is often criticized as inconsistent:

•Swinging Between Isolationism and Adventurism: Vacillates between withdrawal and aggressive posturing. •No Formal Doctrine: Some argue it is less a doctrine than an extension of Trump's personality—instinctual and media-savvy. •Incoherence in Practice: Policies sometimes undermine stated goals.

The Personality Factor

Trump's foreign policy is often described as an extension of his personality—instinctual, media-savvy, and driven by ego rather than a coherent theory.

Conclusion: A Doctrine of Transactional Sovereignty

Trump's grand strategy can be summarized as transactional sovereignty: a focus on maximizing U.S. freedom of action through deal-making, unilateral measures, and selective force, while rejecting multilateral constraints and ideological commitments.

•It is less a formal doctrine than a set of instincts and priorities that prioritize short-term gains and personal diplomacy. •This approach has reshaped U.S. foreign policy by destabilizing traditional alliances and emphasizing great-power confrontation. •Its effectiveness remains debated due to its inherent unpredictability and reliance on Trump's personal style.

"Trump's approach prioritizes American interests as he defines them, demonstrates skepticism toward multilateral institutions and alliances, and embraces personal diplomacy with both allies and adversaries."