What is Trump’s Foreign Policy?

Written by Frank Li

President Trump has no [coherent] foreign policy, but a lot of instinct and random actions driven by America’s domestic politics.

For example, he is waging trade wars against friends, while going out of his way to be friendly with foes, all in the name of MAGA – Make America Great Again.

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1. President Trump’s recent actions

Three prominent examples in sequence over the past two weeks:

1. Trump Refuses to Sign G-7 Statement and Calls Trudeau ‘Weak’.
2. Trump and North Korean Leader meet for the first time in historic Singapore summit.
3. Trump Threatens Tariffs on $200 Billion in China Goods, Escalating Fight.

2. Are these actions right for America?

No!

Specifically, point by point:

1. Trade War with G7 (minus America): If the President wants a trade war, he should have it with the big guy (i.e. China), while maintaining as many allies as possible.
2. Trump-Kim summit: We, America, got nothing out of it, other than a photo for a historical “first”, while North Korea (and China) got everything they wanted, for now, especially the part on ceasing the “war games” over there.
3. Trade War with China: Nobody wins through a war like this. The key question is: who can afford to lose more? China! Read on …

What is Trump’s philosophy behind all these trade wars? Read the image below.

What an idiotic position, almost as dumb as Bush II’s “mission accomplishedâ€!

What will the process and outcome of the trade war with China look like? The image below is worth more than 1,000 words.

3. Why is President Trump doing what he is doing?

Getting re-elected ad nauseam!

Basic reasoning: Why do we have trade problems with “virtual every country it does business with“, using President Trump’s words?

It’s our failing political system, stupid!

Is President Trump fixing the system?

No!

Why not?

Two main reasons:

1. It’s hard, thanks to the power-sharing structure of our government! As a result, our Presidents exercise their powers mostly abroad, from Iraq (President Bush II), to Libya and Syria (President Obama), to trade wars (President Trump).
2. He lacks the wisdom and courage!

In other words, instead of draining the swamp by reforming our failing political system, President Trump is becoming just yet another victim of our system, possibly even worse than his predecessors …

4. Why is our political system so wrong?

There is no governing, but only constant campaigning!

For instance, many campaign promises are meant to be broken in governing, because governing is almost totally opposite to campaigning. Three examples:

1. Israel: Most, if not all, of the recent Presidents promised to support “moving its capital to Jerusalem (from Tel Aviv)” during the campaigns, but none did it while in office, until President Trump.
2. Trade: Most, if not all, of the recent Presidents promised to be “tough on trade” during the campaigns, but none did it while in office, until President Trump.
3. Immigration: Most, if not all, of the recent Presidents promised to be “tough on immigration” during the campaigns, but President Trump has been tougher than all of them (75 Former U.S. Attorneys to Jeff Sessions: End Inhumane Family Separation Policy Now).

Why has President Trump been so extreme?

5. A shortened re-election cycle!

His re-election timeline has been practically shortened from four years to two, thanks to the Mueller investigation under way.

In other words, President Trump must help Republicans keep the majority in Congress after the 2018 mid-term election, in order to save himself from a possible impeachment!

Largely because of that, he did not even pretend to try to govern by broadening his support and uniting the country. Instead, he chose to (1) stick to his core, which is about 35% of the voting population, and (2) keep dividing the country. Three additional examples:

1. Trump Is Criticized for Not Calling Out White Supremacists (Charlottesville Riot).
2. The kneeling thing at sport events (What Is Holding America Together?).
3. Both Parties Worry Gun Control Is Trump’s Next Flip-Flop.

6. Discussion

Once again, President Trump has no [coherent] foreign policy, but a lot of instinct and random actions driven by America’s domestic politics.

As shown by the image below, here is yet another idiotic statement: “There is no longer a Nuclear Threat from North Koreaâ€. It is even dumber than Bush II’s “mission accomplishedâ€!

In contrast, candidate Trump had good instinct, especially on foreign policy, offering some hope to really fix the failed America’s Post-WWII Foreign Policy. But most of the hope is gone by now.

All politics is local; Foreign policy is domestic.

Instead of fixing our failing political system, as I have suggested (see image below), President Trump is becoming just yet another victim of our system, while blundering in foreign policy.

As a result, he will fail both at home and abroad.

Given the hopeless nature of American politics, it’s likely that President Trump will not only serve out his current term, but also be re-elected in 2020.

What does mean for America?

Worse than today in international standing, for sure, and worse off domestically, most likely.

7. Closing

I wish the best for America, whose near future lies in the hands of President Trump. Because of that, I wish the best for President Trump.

Now, please sit back and enjoy the video below. It shows what’s going on between Russia and China, our two biggest competitors. In contrast, we are waging wars everywhere.