🧸US History – 1945 to Present Unit 17 – Trump Era: Populism and Foreign Policy

Rise of Trump's Populism

• Tapped into growing discontent among working-class Americans who felt left behind by globalization and economic changes
• Capitalized on fears about immigration, promising to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border and make Mexico pay for it
• Positioned himself as an outsider who would "drain the swamp" in Washington D.C. and disrupt the political establishment
• Utilized social media (Twitter) to bypass traditional media and directly communicate with supporters
• Employed controversial and divisive rhetoric, often targeting minority groups and political opponents
  • Claimed Mexico was sending "rapists" and "criminals" to the U.S.
  • Called for a "total and complete shutdown" of Muslims entering the country
• Appealed to a sense of nostalgia, promising to "Make America Great Again" and restore the country to a perceived past glory
• Benefited from extensive media coverage, even when negative, which amplified his message and kept him in the spotlight

Key Campaign Promises

• Pledged to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)
• Promised to renegotiate or withdraw from trade agreements like NAFTA and the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP)
• Vowed to bring back manufacturing jobs to the U.S. and impose tariffs on imports
• Committed to nominating conservative justices to the Supreme Court
  • Particularly important to evangelical voters concerned about issues like abortion and religious liberty
• Assured supporters he would take a hard line on immigration, including deporting undocumented immigrants and ending birthright citizenship
• Pledged to "get tough" on crime and support law enforcement
• Promised to increase military spending and strengthen the U.S. armed forces
• Assured voters he would put "America First" in foreign policy decisions

Domestic Policy Shifts

• Implemented significant tax cuts through the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017
  • Lowered corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%
  • Reduced individual income tax rates across brackets
• Appointed conservative justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court
• Rolled back numerous environmental regulations, including those related to climate change and pollution
• Attempted to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, but efforts ultimately failed in Congress
  • Did manage to eliminate the individual mandate penalty
• Instituted travel bans targeting several Muslim-majority countries
• Cracked down on illegal immigration, including increased deportations and attempts to end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program
• Signed criminal justice reform legislation (First Step Act) that reduced mandatory minimum sentences for some drug offenses
• Responded to the COVID-19 pandemic with travel restrictions, economic stimulus measures, and fast-tracking vaccine development (Operation Warp Speed)

America First Foreign Policy

• Withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Climate Agreement, arguing it disadvantaged American businesses and workers
• Renegotiated NAFTA, resulting in the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)
• Engaged in a trade war with China, imposing tariffs on billions of dollars worth of Chinese goods
  • Aimed to reduce the U.S. trade deficit and pressure China to change its trade practices
• Pulled the U.S. out of the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) and reimposed sanctions on Iran
• Recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and moved the U.S. embassy there from Tel Aviv
• Pursued diplomatic negotiations with North Korea, becoming the first U.S. president to meet with a North Korean leader (Kim Jong-un)
  • Aimed to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, but talks ultimately stalled
• Criticized NATO allies for not contributing enough to the alliance and questioned U.S. commitment to collective defense
• Ordered a missile strike on a Syrian airbase in response to a chemical weapons attack by the Assad regime

Major International Conflicts

• Escalated tensions with Iran, including withdrawing from the nuclear deal, imposing sanctions, and ordering the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani
• Engaged in a trade war with China, leading to increased tariffs and economic uncertainty
  • Accused China of unfair trade practices, intellectual property theft, and currency manipulation
• Involved in ongoing conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria, despite promises to end "endless wars"
  • Ordered a troop surge in Afghanistan, but later negotiated a peace deal with the Taliban
  • Declared victory over ISIS in Syria and ordered a partial troop withdrawal
• Supported Saudi Arabia in its conflict with Yemen, despite concerns about civilian casualties and a growing humanitarian crisis
• Faced a crisis in Venezuela, where the U.S. recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the legitimate president over Nicolás Maduro
• Negotiated a normalization of relations between Israel and several Arab states (Abraham Accords)
  • Included the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan, and Morocco

Impact on Global Alliances

• Strained relationships with traditional U.S. allies, particularly in Europe, due to his "America First" approach and criticism of international agreements
• Questioned the value of NATO and pressured allies to increase their defense spending
  • Accused allies of not paying their "fair share" and taking advantage of U.S. military protection
• Withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement, isolating the U.S. from global efforts to combat climate change
• Renegotiated trade agreements (NAFTA, KORUS) and engaged in trade disputes with allies like Canada, Mexico, and the European Union
• Improved relations with some authoritarian leaders, such as Russia's Vladimir Putin and North Korea's Kim Jong-un
  • Faced criticism for appearing too friendly with these leaders and not taking a stronger stance on human rights issues
• Recognized Jerusalem as Israel's capital and moved the U.S. embassy, straining relations with Palestinian leaders and some Arab states
• Withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal, creating a rift with European allies who remained committed to the agreement
• Reduced U.S. funding for international organizations like the United Nations and World Health Organization

Media and Public Opinion

• Maintained a contentious relationship with the media, frequently accusing outlets of producing "fake news" and being biased against him
• Utilized Twitter as a primary means of communication, often bypassing traditional media to directly reach supporters
  • Tweets were often controversial, attacking political opponents, critics, and media figures
• Faced numerous scandals and controversies throughout his presidency, including the Russia investigation, impeachment, and allegations of sexual misconduct
• Polarized public opinion, with supporters viewing him as a disruptive force fighting for their interests and opponents seeing him as a threat to democratic norms
• Enjoyed consistent support from his base, particularly among white working-class voters and evangelical Christians
  • Approval ratings remained relatively stable, rarely dipping below 35% or rising above 45%
• Benefited from a strong economy in the first three years of his presidency, with low unemployment and stock market gains
  • Economic message resonated with many voters, even as other aspects of his presidency were criticized
• Faced declining approval ratings in his final year, largely due to his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and protests following the death of George Floyd

Legacy and Long-term Effects

• Appointed three conservative justices to the Supreme Court (Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett), shifting the court's ideological balance to the right
  • Likely to impact decisions on issues like abortion, gun rights, and environmental regulations for years to come
• Enacted significant tax cuts, particularly benefiting corporations and wealthy individuals
  • Increased the national debt and budget deficit, which could have long-term economic consequences
• Altered the U.S. approach to trade, emphasizing bilateral agreements and using tariffs as a negotiating tool
  • Long-term impact on global trade patterns and U.S. economic relationships remains to be seen
• Deepened political polarization and eroded trust in democratic institutions
  • False claims of election fraud in the 2020 election led to the January 6th Capitol riot and further divided the nation
• Highlighted the power of populist movements and the appeal of anti-establishment candidates
  • Could influence future political campaigns and strategies
• Shifted the Republican Party's priorities and policy positions, particularly on issues like trade, immigration, and foreign policy
• Left a lasting impact on the federal judiciary, not only through Supreme Court appointments but also by filling numerous lower court vacancies with conservative judges
• Presidency served as a catalyst for increased activism and political engagement, both among his supporters and opponents