“America First” Reimagined: Trump’s Nationalism and the Unravelling of the Liberal International Order

Abstract

This paper examines President Donald Trump’s nationalist ideology of “America First” disseminated during his 2016 presidential campaign in the United States (US) and explores how his ideology has conflicted with the liberal international order (LIO) after his electoral success with his strategic ambitions undermining democratic principles. The visibility of Trump’s discontent with the LIO appears in how the US interacts with specific regimes. His government has contradicted its words and actions, undercutting America’s role in key areas such as nuclear non-proliferation, human rights, migration, health, trade, and climate change. The foundation upon which the US has supported and preserved the liberal post-World War II order has now been questioned. Under President Trump, American foreign policy underwent a significant shift, abandoning its previous commitment to providing services to advance democracy worldwide. Donald Trump’s “America First” campaign shows an apparent hegemonic retrenchment, which is evident from the US withdrawal from global leadership, institutional disengagement, transactional diplomacy, and a shift towards unilateralism. The article analyses how the LIO has been directly challenged by President Trump’s aggressive policies and how the decision-making under his presidency has directly conflicted with the foundations of the LIO.