Washington, D.C. — When President Donald Trump delivers his State of the Union address next week, he’s likely to claim that he has restored American dominance through the exercise of absolute power. But a new analysis from the Center for American Progress argues that this badly confuses belligerence for strength. While the administration’s unilateral foreign policy—from military strikes on Iran to reckless tariffs—expands the bounds of executive power, this has only weakened the United States on the world stage.
A review of Trump’s second-term foreign policy decisions in CAP’s “Trump Global Weakness Watch” reveals a president whose actions have actively undermined sources of American power. He has pushed the boundaries of executive authority, often in legally dubious or outright illegal ways, wielding it without the consent of Congress or the American public.
In doing so, Trump has rapidly and unilaterally eroded historic sources of American strength, diminishing the United States’ ability to apply its power in the world for the benefit of the American people. He has isolated the United States, ruptured long-standing alliances, and handed strategic advantages to adversaries.
Read the analysis: “How Trump’s Unilateral Foreign Policy Has Eroded American Power” by Allison McManus and Dawn Le
For more information, or to speak with an expert, please contact Sam Hananel at [email protected].