Trump’s Second Term: An 'America First' Approach Shakes Global Alliances

In the early days of his second term, President Trump has implemented a hardline "America First" foreign policy that has strained alliances and sparked trade wars, leaving many global leaders taken aback.

In his second presidential term, Donald Trump has rapidly reshaped U.S. foreign policy with a confrontational approach that prioritizes American interests above all else. Following a campaign that promised to take a tougher stance against any nation perceived to be exploiting America's economic and military power, Trump has notably disrupted diplomatic ties and initiated significant tariffs against both allies and rivals.

This shift in strategy has alarmed several world leaders. Kaja Kallas, the European Union's foreign policy chief, took to social media to express concern, stating, "The free world needs a new leader," in light of Trump's recent tensions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a contentious Oval Office meeting.

Trump's aggressive measures include imposing a 25 percent tariff on imports from Canada and Mexico, along with two rounds of 10 percent tariffs on Chinese goods. These tariffs, which he justifies as consequences for their failure to curb drug trafficking to the U.S., have triggered a swift response from affected nations. On Tuesday, Canada and China announced their own retaliatory tariffs, and Mexico signaled that it would disclose its countermeasures soon.

The list of Trump’s antagonisms has grown. He has humorously dubbed Canada the 51st state and derided Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as a mere “governor,” actions that seem to have inadvertently bolstered Trudeau's approval ratings. Trump has also threatened to seize control of the Panama Canal and annex Greenland from Denmark, while freezing military assistance to Ukraine amid the ongoing Russian threat. Furthermore, he has cut foreign aid impacting various countries in Africa, South America, and Asia.

Experts note that it is often difficult to determine whether Trump's threats are strategic maneuvers or genuine policy intentions. Nicholas J. Cull, a public diplomacy professor at USC, commented on the confusion surrounding Trump’s foreign policy tactics, suggesting they may be aimed at rallying domestic support while keeping foreign entities on edge.

Despite widespread concern, Trump’s approval ratings have seen a slight uptick, as polls indicate that slightly more Americans support him than oppose him in these opening weeks of his term. As he prepares to address Congress this evening, all eyes remain on how his administration will further define its stance on foreign relations.