Is Donald Trump an Isolationist?

Donald Trump is often described as an isolationist, and there is a lot of truth in that label.Trump embraces the slogan “America First.” He criticizes military aid for Ukraine.

He can be withering about America’s closest allies.But Trump is not an across-the-board isolationist.When he was president, he engaged with the world in ways that still shape U.S.

policy.Rather than ignoring China, he adopted a more confrontational approach than any president in 50 years.

In the Middle East, he imposed “maximum pressure” sanctions on Iran and ordered the assassination of a top general.He also fired missiles at Syria after it used chemical weapons against its own people.

A pure isolationist wouldn’t have taken those steps.The Morning has been publishing a series called The Stakes, focused on the policy positions of the presidential candidates.Today, I’ll look at Trump’s foreign policy by asking two questions: How much of an isolationist is he? And does he deserve credit — as he often argues — for the lack of major wars when he was president?1.

An isolationist?I find it helpful to think about Trump’s foreign policy views on a spectrum from most isolationist to most interventionist:Ukraine is on the isolationist end.Trump has called for cutting U.S.

military aid, which could force Ukraine into an unfavorable peace deal.To many other politicians from both parties, this possibility is deeply alarming: It could reward Vladimir Putin’s invasion, by enabling Russia to annex Ukrainian territory, and encourage future wars.

Trump, however, believes that Americans shouldn’t care much about what happens in many faraway places.His approach to U.S.allies like Japan and Western European countries also leans isolationist — but with nuance.

While president, he pressured these allies to increase military spending, and some did so.You can consider that approach isolationist because it allows the U.S.

to be less engaged.But it also strengthens the internation...