Conservative commentator William Kristol is criticizing President Donald Trump for abandoning the very slogan that once energized his political movement. In a new article for The Bulwark, Kristol argued that Trump’s actions on the global stage have effectively killed the “America First” ideology he once championed.
Under the headline, “‘America First’ Is Dead And Donald Trump Killed It,” Kristol wrote, “The fact is, for all the talk about rejecting ‘globalists,’ the experience of the Trump administration is one of intervening, repeatedly, in global affairs.”
The slogan “America First” was originally coined by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916 as a pledge to keep the U.S. out of World War I. Trump later revived it during his 2016 and 2024 campaigns, using it as a rallying cry against globalization and foreign entanglements.
However, Kristol argues that Trump has failed to uphold its principles during his presidency. Kristol labeled Trump “the Globalist-in-Chief,” citing his involvement in global conflicts and issues including Ukraine, Taiwan, NATO, and even his commentary on the far-right AfD party in Germany’s recent elections.
He emphasized Trump’s inconsistent stance in the current tensions with Iran. “Right now we’re in the midst of a raging debate about whether President Trump should make one last effort at negotiating with Iran or use military force in trying to remove Iran’s nuclear weapons capacity for good,” Kristol wrote.
“Whichever of these alternatives you prefer, neither is ‘America First.’ ‘America First’ would tell you the whole fight should be none of our business.” According to Kristol, a true “America First” approach would simply involve warning other nations not to threaten U.S. citizens or territory, and avoiding further involvement beyond that.
He also criticized the slogan itself, calling it a political smokescreen. “The slogan is an attempt to short-circuit the serious debate we need to have about our foreign policy,” he said. “The question isn’t whether or not we’re going to shape the global order. We are going to do that. The question is how we will do it—for better or for worse?”
Reflecting on America’s growing entanglements, Kristol concluded, “As the Israel-Iran crisis shows, one way or the other, we’re going to be involved. We are all globalists now.”
Read The Bulwark article here.
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