The Vagabond News
Editor: Sudhir Choudhary
Why Does Donald Trump — the “America First” President — Keep Looking to Foreign Leaders?
Washington, D.C. — 20 November 2025
In his second presidency, President Trump continues to embrace a bold and arguably contradictory style of diplomacy — one rooted in his signature “America First” doctrine, yet characterised by frequent, high-profile engagements with foreign heads of state. Experts are asking: what is driving these meetings, and how do they align with his proclaimed priorities?
Strategic Realignment through Personal Diplomacy
While Trump’s “America First” framework stresses U.S. national interests above all, foreign leaders remain central to his approach. The reasoning appears to include:
- Transactional alliances: Analysts note that Trump views relationships with other nations through a cost-benefit lens: for example, he expects allies to “pay their way” militarily or commercially. (CSIS)
- Economic leverage: Engagements with leaders like Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman highlight Trump’s appetite for large investment deals, arms agreements and commercial transfers. (WJAR)
- Global positioning amid shifting order: With traditional alliances fraying and the U.S. recalibrating its role, Trump appears to rely on direct diplomacy with major powers and regional actors to secure America’s interests on his own terms. (Brookings)
Why the Diplomacy Doesn’t Contradict “America First”
Although “America First” suggests US disengagement from foreign entanglements, Trump’s foreign engagements can still be consistent with that slogan because:
- They emphasise bilateral deals rather than multilateral obligations, thereby focusing on America’s gain rather than collective global commitments. (Council on Foreign Relations)
- Trump frames them as leveraging America’s position—military, economic or geopolitical—rather than serving other nations. The underlying message: the U.S. will engage if it benefits. (CSIS)
- These visits and talks serve to project power and influence, reinforcing the idea that America leads from strength rather than from global institution-driven leadership. (Brookings)
Risks and Contradictions
Yet this strategy is not without its tensions and vulnerabilities:
- Some close allies see the U.S. as unpredictable or transactional, eroding long-standing trust built on alliances. (Brookings)
- Prioritising deals and image over institution-building may weaken America’s longer-term strategic footprint. Analysts warn of “America the Small” rather than “America First”. (Brookings)
- The logic of “America First” implies fewer constraints and more unilateral action—but deep global problems (e.g., pandemics, climate) often require collaboration beyond bilaterality. (Brookings)
So What’s the Bottom Line?
In short, President Trump is turning to foreign leaders not as an indication of abandoning “America First”, but rather as a tool to advance it in a style that emphasises deals, visible power and direct leadership. By meeting with world leaders and securing high-profile engagements, Trump is signalling that America still leads—but on his terms. The challenge will be whether this approach sustains U.S. influence in a more interconnected, complex world.
The Vagabond News
Editor: Sudhir Choudhary
