The Philosophical Underpinnings of Trump's Foreign Policy: Analyzing Key Influences and Implications

Abstract

Donald Trump, the forty fifth President of the United States, has attracted and continues drawing sharp criticism regarding his foreign policy. Apart from being described in some circles as a nationalist, there is no denying that the President holds an extraordinary set of beliefs that are completely different from the rest of the world and dedicates himself to achieving them regardless of any type of backlash. ‘America First’, Mr Trump’s campaign slogan, sends messages which offer a glimpse to the intertwining principles of his policies and strong anti-globalist sentiment of the American people which results in a revolutionary view of a world order that focuses on restraint and traditionalism. In this scientific commentary, we will discuss the basic philosophical formatives that are guiding Trump's foreign policy and explaining how this world's perceptions not only impact the President's decisions, but also the international relations as a whole. Furthermore, we explore what this means for the wider understanding of politics where ideology and practice grow in opposite directions. We trust this will provide useful insights into what to expect out of US diplomatic relations in the subsequent years after the end of Mr. Trump’s presidency.