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Trump’s Foreign Policy Firestorm: Peace Promises Collide With Record of Military Aggression and Geopolitical Chaos
FnF News
By FNF News Staff
May 27, 2025
Former President Donald Trump has repeatedly touted himself as the candidate of “peace through strength,” promising to end wars and pull back from America’s role as the world’s policeman. Yet, his past actions—and current rhetoric—tell a far more complex and dangerous story. From military strikes in Yemen to controversial support for Israel’s actions in Gaza, Trump’s foreign policy legacy and campaign posturing have ignited international alarm and domestic backlash.
While his base continues to champion his anti-globalist stances, critics argue that Trump’s policies have often stoked the very conflicts he vowed to end.
A Campaign of Peaceful Rhetoric
Throughout his 2016 and 2020 campaigns, and now again in 2024, Trump has consistently promised to keep America out of “forever wars” and bring troops home. His rhetoric has resonated with war-weary Americans. In 2024, he claimed he would “end the war in Ukraine in 24 hours” and even suggested he could broker peace between Israel and Palestine.
But critics and foreign policy experts warn that Trump’s past and present foreign actions suggest the opposite.
“He campaigns as a peacemaker, but governs as an aggressor,” said Dr. Evelyn Monahan, a foreign policy analyst at the Brookings Institution.
Bombing Yemen: The Forgotten War
One of the most glaring contradictions in Trump’s peace narrative lies in his handling of Yemen. While the U.S. had supported the Saudi-led coalition against the Houthi rebels since 2015 under President Obama, Trump significantly escalated support.
According to a 2019 CNN report, the Trump administration approved billions of dollars in arms sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, bypassing Congressional approval by declaring an emergency over Iran. This decision, covered by The New York Times, allowed precision-guided missiles, drones, and other military equipment to reach the Saudi-led coalition, which has been implicated in war crimes by groups like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.
Under Trump, U.S. logistical support, targeting assistance, and intelligence sharing continued—even as the war resulted in the deaths of over 377,000 people, according to a 2021 United Nations report.
“Trump enabled one of the worst humanitarian crises on the planet while claiming he was pulling America back from conflict,” said Sarah Leah Whitson of Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN).
Israel and Gaza: Unwavering Support, Mounting Criticism
Trump’s foreign policy in the Middle East has been defined by staunch support for Israel—most notably his 2018 decision to move the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem and his backing of the Abraham Accords. But it’s his more recent remarks and actions that have reignited concerns about his global impact.
Since the escalation of violence in Gaza in 2023, leading to what many human rights organizations have described as genocidal conditions, Trump has offered unqualified support for Israel’s military operations. In a 2024 rally in Iowa, he called Israel’s campaign “righteous self-defense” and suggested the U.S. should follow suit in dealing with “radical threats.”
His language has drawn fire from both U.S. and international observers. The International Criminal Court (ICC) is currently investigating alleged war crimes by both Hamas and the Israeli government. While President Biden has attempted to walk a diplomatic tightrope, Trump’s comments have emboldened hardliners on both sides.
“Trump’s rhetoric gives a green light to atrocities under the guise of solidarity,” said Kenneth Roth, former executive director of Human Rights Watch, in a Foreign Policy op-ed.
Flirting with Authoritarian Leaders
Despite his anti-war persona, Trump has often aligned himself with some of the world’s most controversial leaders—drawing concerns about his judgment and geopolitical strategy.
His recent two-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, as reported by The Guardian, raised alarms among intelligence officials. Though Trump claimed that Putin “wants peace in Ukraine,” experts suggest the former president’s statements may serve to legitimize Russian aggression.
During his presidency, Trump also cozied up to North Korea’s Kim Jong-un, exchanging “love letters” and holding historic summits with little tangible outcome. The diplomatic overtures made headlines, but failed to achieve denuclearization or end North Korea’s belligerent behavior.
“Trump’s affection for strongmen is part of a larger pattern—one that sidelines allies and bolsters adversaries,” said former National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster in a recent CNN interview.
Escalation, Not Restraint
Analysts argue that far from reducing conflict, Trump’s foreign policy often escalated it. His decision to assassinate Iranian General Qassem Soleimani in 2020 brought the U.S. and Iran to the brink of open war. The strike, carried out without congressional authorization, was condemned by international legal experts.
Furthermore, Trump’s withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) unraveled years of diplomacy and triggered a new phase of instability in the Middle East. According to a 2023 report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran has now enriched uranium closer to weapons-grade levels than before the agreement.
“Trump’s decisions dismantled a working framework and invited chaos,” said Barbara Slavin, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council.
The MAGA War Doctrine?
Trump’s brand of populist nationalism has translated into a doctrine of selective militarism—where aggression is cloaked in patriotism and isolationism serves as a smokescreen for interventionism. While he loudly criticized the “deep state” and U.S. entanglements abroad, his administration expanded drone warfare, increased military budgets, and emboldened autocrats.
“The idea that Trump represents peace is a myth built on slogans, not substance,” said retired General Stanley McChrystal in a Washington Post op-ed.
2024 and Beyond: Fire Still Burns
As Trump seeks re-election in 2024, he has returned to peace-centric rhetoric—promising to bring “stability to the world” and accusing Biden of “weakness.” Yet, many wonder whether a second Trump term would only reignite the flames of global conflict.
Public opinion remains divided. While Trump leads in many GOP primary polls, according to Pew Research, 62% of Americans believe the U.S. should play a “major role” in global affairs—suggesting skepticism toward isolationist posturing.
Internationally, allies in NATO and the EU have expressed concern over Trump’s potential return. In a 2024 statement, European Council President Charles Michel warned that “a shift in U.S. foreign policy could destabilize transatlantic unity at a critical time.”
Conclusion: Playing with Fire—At a Gas Station
Donald Trump’s record reveals a paradox: a candidate who speaks of peace yet acts with aggression. His moves in Yemen, his enabling of Israel’s deadly campaign in Gaza, and his willingness to cozy up to authoritarian leaders contradict the image of a peace-seeking president.
As global tensions mount and the world looks for steady leadership, the stakes of Trump’s rhetoric and potential second term couldn’t be higher. In the words of political scientist Ian Bremmer: “You don’t bring peace by setting the world on fire—and you certainly don’t do it by lighting a match in a gas station.”
Sources:
- CNN: “Trump Bypasses Congress on Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia”
- The New York Times: “Trump’s Middle East Strategy Built on Fragile Foundations”
- Human Rights Watch: “U.S. Role in Yemen Atrocities”
- The Guardian: “Trump’s Two-Hour Call With Putin Sparks Concern”
- Foreign Policy: “Trump’s Embrace of Strongmen Undermines Democracy”
- Atlantic Council: “After the JCPOA: What Trump’s Withdrawal Means”
- Pew Research: “American Attitudes on Global Engagement”
- International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Reports
- Washington Post and Reuters reporting on ICC Investigations