From the ideological liberalism of Obama to Trump’s ambition to Biden’s traditionalistic restraint (and back to Trump again), U.S. foreign policy has swung like a pendulum between the polar ends of ideals and instinct, all the while clinging to the illusion that it can remain dominant in the international order.
In truth, American foreign policy needs to learn to embrace a pragmatic realism that sustains global leadership without succumbing to isolationism or overreach.
For the American people, that illusion has become costly. Obama’s faith in diplomacy and sanctions revealed America’s struggle to sustain leadership while avoiding the costs of intervention (Unger, 2016). His reliance on economic pressure — from Iran to Russia — projected power without troops, but it also underscored the limits of soft coercion.
Trump 1.0 scoffed at the diplomatic approach, focusing instead on “America First” as he stated in his speech at the Center for National Interest in 2016 (“Donald Trump Delivers Foreign Policy Speech – Center for the National Interest”). Biden sought to restore balance, promoting democracy while accepting limits (Rhodes, 2024).
But Trump 2.0 promises even more hegemonic ambitions. Expanded tariffs, sidelined alliances, and pursuits of a foreign policy of economic siege and unilateralism create a recipe for global instability (Nelson, 2024). As global and domestic uncertainties continue to grow as to what we can expect from Trump’s protectionist policies, as well as what to expect from retaliation abroad, the United States faces self-imposed isolation from the world order it once built.
If America is to remain a credible leader, it must move beyond the illusion of dominance. Real leadership now requires pragmatic realism: humility, consistency and cooperation. Power alone won’t preserve influence — partnership and steadiness will.
Ella Arnold, Salt Lake City
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