Trump on Foreign Policy
It is a good thing that millions of people are willing to vote for a candidate who claims to be anti-interventionist. Whether he actually is that, however, outlines the problem.
Donald Trump’s Foreign Policy Positions:
Afghanistan: Increased troops, then criticized Biden’s withdraw after failing to withdraw as he had promised.
Yemen: Used veto power to continue Saudi lead war in Yemen.
Syria: Struck Syria with a missile strike, then a second strike.
Israel: Moved capital and American Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Cuba: Trump cut ties with Cuba (because he wanted the Government to be overthrown). Trump then put sanctions on Cuba.
North Korea: Trump threatened North Korea.
Iraq: Supported Iraq War on Howard Stern, but later positioned himself as an opponent. Trump put John Bolton in his cabinet. Trump donated to Hillary Clinton in 2009.
When Trump attacked Jeb Bush on the debate stage for his brother (George W Bush) allowing 9/11 and invading Iraq, he claimed to have always been against the Iraq war. However, as listed above, he was recorded on radio supporting the Iraq invasion himself.
Now, compared to what came before him, it is fair to say that George W Bush was much worse on foreign policy, invading both Iraq and Afghanistan. Barack Obama too collapsed the Libya regime with a no fly zone and repeatedly threatened “Assad must go.” Going up against Hillary Clinton (who voted for and championed the Iraq invasion and was Secretary of State during the Libya no fly zone), it seemed that Trump was talking himself up as the anti-interventionist candidate. His record, once in power, was not anti-interventionist.
Trump talked a good game. A good thing to take from this is that millions of voters are willing to vote for a candidate who threatened the foreign policy establishment. However, Trump only threatened the establishment and did not actually drain the swamp.
Trump is the front runner to reclaim the GOP nomination for the 2024 election. I notice some people have not caught on to Trump and still think he would be better on foreign policy than Biden. He may be better on Ukraine/Russia, but taken as a whole, Trump’s foreign policy record is not good or as good as the impression he lets on. I can understand opposing Biden’s foreign aid to Ukraine, but Biden (as President / Vice President, not as Senator) has had a better record than Trump in the Middle East. Biden opposed intervening in Libya while Vice President. Both Biden and Trump supported the Iraq war while Biden was Senator and both switched their positions later.
It is reasonable to debate lesser evils, but let us not get carried away and make Trump into what he has proven not to be. That the establishment flips out over the threat he poses does not mean that he actually actualizes that threat.