Donald Trump returned to the presidency on Monday, resuming his duties as commander-in-chief. His position once again puts him in charge of the world’s most powerful military, which — often at his discretion — can engage in deadly war or act as a deterrent and force for peace.
How Trump performed as commander-in-chief in his first administration may provide a guide for the next four years.
President Donald Trump speaks during the inaugural parade inside Capital One Arena in Washington, DC on January 20, 2025.
Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
In Monday’s opening speechTrump set the tone for a significant shift in US foreign policy that could have seismic consequences for America’s friends and foes alike.
“Our armed forces will be free to focus on their single mission, defeating America’s enemies,” he said.
About his last comments Taking the Panama Canal and Greenland — refusing to rule out the use of military force for this purpose — raised eyebrows, referring to neighboring Canada as the “51st state”. He too He signed an executive order to rename the Gulf of Mexico Like the “Gulf of America” on Monday.
“The plan was to grab media attention and put himself at the center of the news cycle,” retired Lt. Gen. Douglas Lute, the former US ambassador to NATO, told ABC News. “This surprise means that all roads lead to the Oval Office and his next statement.”
However, Trump’s slogans about making America great and putting America first may soon come up against his need to be seen by the world as a deal maker. The war in Ukraine He has been raging since 2022, but he has promised to end it.
“Shortly after winning the presidency, I will resolve the terrible war between Russia and Ukraine,” he said. he said last August. “I will fix it very quickly.”
A picture remains on the wall of a kindergarten building destroyed during the Russian invasion in Kharkiv’s Saltivka district on January 20, 2025 in Kharkiv, Ukraine.
Carl Court/Getty Images
Trump warned Russian President Vladimir Putin that if the war did not end soon, Ukraine could get significantly more aid.
At the same time, he has told Ukraine that he will not receive more US aid if he does not join the peace talks. Last week, the nominee for White House budget director Russell Vought During his Senate confirmation hearing, he refused to fully commit to the $3.8 billion in aid that Congress had already approved.
of China Threats against Taiwan and international shipments may also encourage Trump to show Chinese President Xi Jinping that America believes it has the upper hand militarily.
“He will always leave a solution that looks strong and responsible,” Lute told ABC News. “So I don’t think there’s an easy way to get away from a big competition with China.”
The situation on the US-Mexico border is also on the mind, with Trump declaring a national emergency in his inaugural address.
“I will end the practice of catch and release and send troops to the southern border to repel this disastrous invasion of our country,” he said.
The biggest difference in American foreign policy can be seen in the Middle East, and in the war between Israel and Hamas. On January 7, Hamas set a deadline for a cease-fire agreement in Gaza in exchange for the release of hostages taken during the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel.
“If a deal is not done before I take office, which will be in two weeks from now … all hell will break loose,” he said. he said in a press conference.
Then last week, the outgoing Biden administration — along with incoming Trump envoys — helped broker a cease-fire and hostage exchange. It went into effect on Sunday. However, the agreement is fragile and full of holes. In fact, it is not clear who will govern Gaza if the peace lasts.
Palestinians walk past the ruins of destroyed buildings on a street in Jabalia, displaced to the northern areas of the Gaza Strip, on January 21, 2025.
Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP via Getty Images
The images from the streets report an uncomfortable reality. Hamas gunmen are still in charge, an unacceptable situation for the Israeli government. Even the Trump administration is unlikely to accept control of Hamas.
Beyond Gaza, the situation in the Middle East has seen major changes since Trump was last president. Iran, the main power in the region, has seen many allies weakened by various conflicts.
Hamas has been devastated and weakened by months of conflict with Israel. Lebanese political party and armed group Hezbollah — The US designated it a terrorist group — is a shadow of its former strength, with Hassan Nasrallah as its leader He was killed in an Israeli attack in September
So does former Syrian President Bashar Assad he fled his countryhis family held power for more than 50 years after a rebel offensive toppled his regime in December.
In the midst of this new balance of power, Trump wants it to Normalize diplomatic relations between Israel and Saudi Arabia. That treaty could bring peace and stability to the region – it was the Biden administration working to mediate this agreement Before the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.
The Trump administration faces enormous international challenges, and America going it alone may not be a viable option.
