Trump's Foreign Policy: 19th-Century Expansionism Reshapes Global Order

Key Quotes

"We will make America great again." That phrase has been in our political ecosystem for 10 years now, but it's never been entirely clear what time period in American history President Trump was referencing. Is it the 1980s? Maybe the 1950s? What about further back? Say, the 1890s. As we enter the second year of Trump's second term, is a 19th-century presidency emerging?

Scott Detrow introduces the central question of the episode, highlighting the ambiguity of the "Make America Great Again" slogan. Detrow suggests that President Trump's policies may be echoing those of the 19th century, setting the stage for an exploration of historical parallels.

"The president announced goods from every nation we trade with will be subject to import taxes, which echoed the Tariff Act of 1890. As Morocca explained on CBS, the 1890 McKinley Tariff raised rates as high as 50%."

Scott Detrow points to the implementation of tariffs as a specific policy that mirrors 19th-century economic practices. Detrow uses the McKinley Tariff of 1890 as a concrete example, illustrating the historical precedent for such protectionist measures.

"Now, AI is the billion-dollar industry and its leaders are donating money and courting favors with the current administration. Amazon, led by Jeff Bezos, is donating $1 million to Trump's inauguration fund. Meta, led by Mark Zuckerberg, is also giving $1 million to the fund, and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is also making a personal donation of $1 million."

Scott Detrow draws a parallel between the influence of the railroad industry in the 19th century and the current influence of the AI industry. Detrow notes that leaders in this modern industry are engaging in financial contributions and seeking political favor, echoing historical patterns of corporate influence.

"From 1867 to 1899, the United States acquired several territories, including the Hawaiian Islands, despite protests from the native population. The Spanish-American War began. Seeing Hawaii as a strategic military base, President William McKinley declared it a US territory."

Scott Detrow illustrates a historical foreign policy approach by referencing US territorial expansion in the late 19th century. Detrow highlights the acquisition of Hawaii as an example of the United States asserting its power to gain strategic assets, even against local opposition.

"I think from an international perspective, as you said, this harkens back to a period of time when the US would just declare that it was going to use force or other means to expand or to secure access to resources. I think one of the big questions is, how do other countries interpret this?"

Michael Froman analyzes the implications of the US intervention in Venezuela, connecting it to historical instances of US expansionism. Froman expresses concern about how other nations will perceive this action, suggesting it signals a return to a more assertive and resource-driven foreign policy.

"The argument you hear from Stephen Miller and others in the Trump White House is that it's bogus, that that's a veneer that's never been true, and foreign policy is about strength and it's about power and it's about the US seizing what it wants."

Michael Froman articulates a key tenet of the Trump administration's foreign policy perspective. Froman explains that this viewpoint rejects the concept of a rules-based international order, prioritizing national strength and the pursuit of US interests above all else.

"What this administration has done is said, look, we're going to put that to the side. And we're going to go back, in many respects, to, as you suggested, an earlier period, where what mattered was your hard power and how you exercised it, and whether any other country could stand up to you in doing so."

Michael Froman characterizes the current administration's foreign policy shift as a departure from the post-World War II order. Froman states that the administration is prioritizing raw power and unilateral action over the established system of international rules and cooperation.

"Yes, I'd say there was a lot of expectation coming into the second term that the president was going to be an isolationist. And he is clearly not an isolationist. He has been deeply engaged internationally from day one."

Michael Froman expresses surprise at the Trump administration's foreign policy direction, noting that it contradicts expectations of isolationism. Froman observes that President Trump has been actively involved in international affairs since the beginning of his second term.