Foreign Policy and the Military
Another area where President Trump promised big changes was in foreign policy and our military. His goal was to make the world safe from foreign powers who are seeking to exploit our nation. He has said, “We need to protect our national interests around the globe.”
End the Russia-Ukraine war within 24 hours
Trump has been less supportive than the Biden-Harris administration in backing Ukraine against Russia (which launched an invasion in 2022). Trump did not detail his plan, but even Russian officials expressed skepticism that this could be achieved. As of this writing, a year has passed and the war continues. There have been moments where the Trump administration has suggested that a peace agreement or temporary truce was in the offing. So far, neither has occurred. The latest initiative has come from the Russians, proposing that Zelinski travel to Moscow for peace talks. Trilateral peace talks continue as this article is posted. Meanwhile, drone attacks continue and on the ground fighting in the east has not lessened.
Target Chinese ownership of U.S. vital infrastructures
As reported by AP in December 2025, the Trump administration may have softened its language on China in order to maintain a fragile truce in their trade war. However, Congress has moved ahead with more restrictions in a defense authorization bill that would deny Beijing investments in highly sensitive sectors and reduce U.S. reliance on Chinese biotechnology companies. The December 2025 bill, as amended by the Senate, also prohibited government money from being used for equipment and services from blacklisted Chinese biotechnology companies. The compromise bill authorizing $900 billion for military programs was released two days after the White House unveiled its national security strategy.
The Trump administration dropped Biden-era language that cast China as a strategic threat. An administration spokesperson said the U.S. “will rebalance America’s economic relationship with China.” This is an indication that President Trump is more interested in a mutually advantageous economic relationship with Beijing than in long-term competition. For example, Trump has allowed Nvidia (a computer chip manufacturer) to sell an advanced type of computer chip to China Those more hawkish Congressman are concerned that this will help Beijing boost the country’s artificial intelligence. “Whatever the White House says about limiting Chinese investments in our infrastructure, Capitol Hill is locking in a hard-edged, long-term competition with Beijing,” said Craig Singleton, senior director of the China program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, a Washington-based think tank.
Hold China financially responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic
While there was a great deal of talk about holding China responsible for the COVID pandemic, there has been little action on this 2025 promise. Repeated investigations have failed to show any Chinese culpability.
Instead, President Trump has done the opposite of partnering with universities. He has attacked many Ivy League and top universities for DEI initiatives, threatening to withhold federal dollars or even legal actions. His work with businesses is presented in the earlier discussion on China ownership.
Construct an Iron Dome-like missile defense system for the U.S.
The U.S. has been a leader in creating anti-missile technology. The 2011 Iron Dome has protected Israel from airborne attacks on numerous occasions. But experts say the threats to Israel are different than those facing the United States, making the Iron Dome a less obvious solution for the U.S. The president vowed to build a Golden Dome missile defense shield for the country in three years. It’s nowhere close to being done. One year and billions of appropriated dollars later, his “Golden Dome” dream is no closer to reality. The Pentagon hasn’t started rolling out the vast network of sensors and interceptors due to the project’s complexity. According to two industry insiders and two former defense officials, the White House has yet to release the billions Congress appropriated to build the architecture. And that means the defense industry hasn’t been able to start working in earnest.
Provide record-breaking military funding
Although Trump has touted that he did not launch a war during his first term, this promise expresses support for generous military funding. President Trump declared that he would ask Congress for a $1.5 trillion defense budget in 2027, a massive $500 billion increase from this year’s Pentagon budget.
The huge boost reflects how expensive some of Trump’s military ambitions are, from the Golden Dome air defense effort to his call for a new battleship design. Neither of those programs could be fully funded under current spending levels. While finding a half trillion dollars in new spending would prove difficult, Trump and some congressional Republicans appeared confident they could do so. The budget reached $1 trillion this year, thanks to $150 billion in new money Congress voted to pour into Pentagon coffers, via a reconciliation bill.
Withdraw from the World Health Organization
Trump criticized the WHO for its perceived closeness to China, which he said compromised its advice on the coronavirus and its investigations of the pandemic. In January 2026, the United States completed the legal withdrawal process, thus ending its membership, governance participation, and funding contributions. Experts are raising concerns about the short- and long-term implications for public health in the U.S. and abroad. “The WHO continues to serve as a very critical traffic control and public health response organization for the world,” says Dr. Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. “We in the U.S. don’t experience many of the infectious diseases we see around the world, in large part because they are stopped in these countries, oftentimes through the support and coordination of the WHO. Funding the WHO is about investing in our own health here in this country.” (Time)
Summary/Conclusion
President Trump did increase military spending in his One Big Beautiful Bill and has asked for double that budgeted amount for 2027. His support for renaming the Department of Defense to the Department of War has many Americans concerned. His “arrest” of President Maduro of Venezuela has increased tensions in the Caribbean. Cuba and Columbia are in his sights. He has made remarks about sending troops into Mexico and making Canada the 51st state. His rhetoric regarding acquiring Greenland has fractured our relationship with Denmark and other NATO nations.
He has successfully withdrawn America from WHO, but at what cost to world health? His ability to deliver on his other promises is questionable. The Golden Dome project is not on schedule. He has not been able to hold China accountable for the COVID pandemic. He could not end the Ukraine Russian war in 24 hours. His policy toward Chinese investments in America is “rebalancing.” He has failed to fulfill 5 out of 7 promises. Not only has he failed to deliver on 5 of his promises, he has not protected our global interests. Instead, America has fewer friends!
Thoughts from the Middle by Robert J. Fischer 