President Donald Trump appeared at a Medal of Freedom ceremony in Washington, DC, on Tuesday, but his mind—and influence—were clearly far beyond US borders.
For a leader who once campaigned on staying out of foreign affairs under the slogan “America First,” Trump now seems deeply entangled in international conflicts, political struggles, and global power plays. In a single day, he threatened to forcibly disarm Hamas if it refuses to surrender weapons in Gaza, bragged about sinking another Venezuelan speedboat in his controversial anti-cartel operation, and suggested sending Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine—despite months spent warning that US involvement could spark a war with Russia.
And, in one of his most explosive moves, Trump offered a $20 billion financial rescue to Argentina—but only if voters there keep his political ally, President Javier Milei, in power. The offer came even as Trump claims a government funding crisis forced him to fire hundreds of US federal employees.
To Trump, geopolitics has become transactional. Whether in the Middle East, South America, or Eastern Europe, he has made American leverage dependent on loyalty—to him.
A Chaotic Stream of Power Politics
During a rambling press appearance beside Milei at the White House, Trump veered wildly from topic to topic. He raged against Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, attacked New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani as a “communist,” mocked Joe Biden for using an autopen, insulted Kamala Harris, criticized Spain’s defense spending, and somehow still found time to promote the upcoming Los Angeles World Cup and Olympic Games.
It was vintage Trump—volatile, combative, and unrestrained. Just a day earlier he was being praised as a global dealmaker after helping broker a hostage release and ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Within 24 hours, he had reverted to the grievance-driven theatrics that define his public persona.
Trump’s Foreign Policy: Not Isolationism, but Personal Empire
Though Trump still invokes “America First,” his actions reveal a foreign policy that rejects isolationism and instead favors aggressive unilateral action driven by personal interests and ideological allies.
Trump despises long, costly ground wars like Iraq and Afghanistan—but eagerly authorizes precise military strikes to project strength, such as his attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities. His strategy borrows selectively from different Republican factions: sometimes siding with hardliners like Secretary of State Marco Rubio, other times embracing anti-establishment theatrics alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. His tariff wars follow the protectionism of Peter Navarro, while his diplomatic maneuvers echo Cold War-era GOP power politics.
Ideologically, Trump is impossible to categorize. His central motivation appears to be power and dominance, not traditional diplomacy. His foreign actions are often improvised, rooted in personal loyalty, and detached from long-standing US policy frameworks.
From America First to Trump First
When Trump first unveiled “America First” at the 2016 Republican National Convention, he framed it as a defense of US sovereignty. But today, in his second term, the doctrine serves a deeper ambition: projecting Trump’s personal influence across the world—politically, economically, and even militarily. He dreams openly of a Nobel Peace Prize. His administration approaches international crises like business deals—where access to key resources like lithium, energy, and rare earth metals is as important as diplomacy.
The Argentina Example: Power Strategy in Action
Officially, Trump’s $20 billion backing for Argentina is meant to stabilize a collapsing economy and prevent financial contagion in South America. But both Trump and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent made the underlying political motive clear: to prop up Milei, his far-right ideological twin.
“He’s MAGA all the way. It’s Make Argentina Great Again,” Trump said proudly at the White House.
Then came the blunt condition:
“If he wins, we stay with him. If he doesn’t win, we’re gone.”
The move mirrors Trump’s past behavior—most notably his pressure campaign on Ukraine to investigate Joe Biden, which got him impeached during his first term. But today, such actions barely cause a ripple in Washington. Outrage fatigue has numbed the political system.
Hard Power Abroad — and Political Risks at Home
Trump also continues naval strikes off Venezuela under the banner of fighting drug cartels and fentanyl trafficking—an issue popular with his base. Critics argue the strikes bypass Congressional war powers and amount to extrajudicial military violence aimed at destabilizing Nicolás Maduro’s regime.
In Gaza, Trump’s dramatic hostage deal with Israel momentarily boosted his global credibility. But his latest warning that the US would “disarm Hamas” if they do not surrender has raised fears he may deploy American troops—breaking a central promise to his supporters to avoid new Middle East wars.
“Everything is possible with Trump,” said former State Department official Andrew Miller. “But putting US soldiers in Gaza would be a major test of his support base.”