Trumped Up Isolationism

American isolationism. The United States has held a large role as a world leader since World War II, and with so many countries’ economies and politics being intertwined; the idea of the United States ever returning to the isolated state it once was would, in my opinion, impact America negatively.

Unfortunately, throughout 2017, I found that we must face that, in our current situation, it is very possible that we could be pushed off the world stage if the relationship we have with our allies continues to be strained by the current President’s take on diplomacy.

During his campaign while running in the 2016 Presidential election, President Trump made his goals extremely clear. President Trump was going to “Make America Great Again,” by putting “America First.” Whether this is still Donald Trump’s goal or not, I believe his unconventional way of dealing with other governing States could lead us into a very disastrous situation on the global front. A situation where the United States is no longer welcomed at the table of international affairs.

Throughout this year, I’ve found that President Trump’s decisions, when it comes to American foreign policy, is causing a negative backlash on The United States’ reputation as a global leader. Especially, based off of what has been coming up in the news lately, such as creating an uproar in the Middle East by naming Jerusalem as Israel’s capital. The United Nations response to his racist comments on Africa, and his antagonistic Twitter remarks at Kim Jong Un.

While people’s view on the President’s use of Twitter differs, I still believe that using it for anything but to inform as an issue. Using it for discussing sensitive issues can cause problems. Twitting at other world leaders, such as Kim Jong Un, creates a very public platform of global discussions, for the rest of the world to see, but I also think it leaves room for there to be miscommunications and words taken out of context and put strain on the relationship.

The President’s behavior in failing to filter himself can make other countries and their governments view our Commander-in-Chief negatively. The movement to ban Trump from entering the United Kingdom is an example of the deteriorating relationship of the United States and their allies. By not respecting the President, it can devalue the office that he represents.

I found this issue with the United Kingdom to be extremely distressful, not only because I hold so much respect for the nation, but also because of the “Special Relationship” we’ve shared with the United Kingdom for many decades. The fact that the Queen isn’t planning to meet Donald Trump anytime soon, shows that it is very possible that the bond we had with the United Kingdom will not be as strong as it once while Trump holds office.

The President might see his bluntness as being beneficial to America’s needs, but what the United States needs in this day and age is to hold on and strengthen our bonds with other nations and earn their respect while, simultaneously putting our country’s needs first. It is not impossible to do both.