Donald Trump’s second term will have significant implications for U.S. relations with countries like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, most of whom endorsed Kamala Harris.
His strength and unpredictability keep leaders like Putin, Xi, Khamenei, and Kim Jong Un off balance. While he took a tough stance on China and held a firm line with U.S. adversaries during his first term, his second term is likely to see an even tougher Trump, as the U.S. is already engaged in active, if indirect, conflicts with Russia and Iran, while tensions with China and North Korea seem higher now than they were four years ago.
Trump may seek to align the military and intelligence communities with his views on America First patriotism, emphasizing nationalism and competence over DEI initiatives. He will support Israel against Iran and is likely to approve more sanctions or even consider direct strikes on Iranian targets. As a state sponsor of terror, Iran plays a central role in fueling threats from groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and the Houthis, making it a primary focus for mitigating regional threats.
The threats from Putin and Xi are more intense now than in 2016, while Europe faces tougher economic conditions. Although mainstream media has stirred fears that Trump will abandon U.S. allies, this view isn’t consistent with his policies from his first term or with his current platform.
Trump is clear that he wants NATO and Taiwan to take greater responsibility for their own defense, but this does not equate to abandoning them. Until recently, Taiwan had reduced its military conscription to just three months while expecting the U.S. to shoulder its defense needs. Preserving Taiwan’s independence and countering China is imperative to U.S. national security, but Taiwan should demonstrate its commitment by maximizing its own defense efforts before asking the U.S. to cover the difference.
Among the changes NATO countries must make are increasing military spending and refraining from trade and security deals that undermine U.S. policy. For example, Turkey needs to stop bypassing sanctions to trade with Russia, and Germany should reconsider its trade ties with China. Many NATO countries should also consider reinstating conscription.
Trump is expected to impose heavy tariffs on Chinese imports, accelerating the economic decoupling from China and cutting off funding for Xi Jinping’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA). He is also likely to enforce strict secondary sanctions against China and North Korea for supporting Russia in Ukraine. It’s within the realm of possibility that he could even threaten U.S. allies with secondary sanctions if they trade with Russia or violate U.S. restrictions on China.
In the Russia-Ukraine war, Trump is expected to negotiate with Putin, though the specific terms and implications remain unclear. What is certain, however, is that with Trump in office, Putin is unlikely to expand beyond Ukraine. Poland, for instance, may feel safer with Trump in power. While Trump maintained a working relationship with Putin, Moscow publicly stated their preference for Biden and even endorsed Kamala Harris.
If the mainstream media’s claims that Trump intends to surrender Ukraine to Russia were accurate, it would stand to reason that Putin would prefer Trump, not Kamala. The reality is that U.S.-Russia relations under Trump are more complex and nuanced than the media’s simplistic narrative of collusion. In fact, there isn’t a single policy from Trump’s first term, nor one currently projected, that puts Russia’s interests above those of the U.S.
The media often labels Trump as an isolationist, but this characterization is misleading.
Trump supports international trade and investment, provided they benefit the U.S., and he is willing to block deals that don’t. The same applies to international treaties and agreements; Trump won’t engage in global accords unless they are advantageous for the U.S. Generally, he favors bilateral over multilateral agreements, a stance aligned with historical U.S. policy. Apart from organizations like the UN, WTO, WHO, NATO, and NAFTA, the U.S. typically avoids multilateral commitments. Trump has even considered withdrawing from some of these, calling them “a bad deal” for America.
A second Trump administration is likely to be bad news for America’s adversaries, which translates to positive outcomes for the American people.
Dr. Antonio Graceffo, PhD, China MBA, is an economist and national security analyst with a focus on China and Russia. He is a graduate of American Military University.
Reprinted with permission from The Gateway Pundit – By Dr. Antonio Graceffo
The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AMAC or AMAC Action.
We love Trump’s protection of America first and his strong commitment to us first, rather than other countries and our enemies. Because of his business acumen, he will make America financially strong and will pay off the $38,TRILLION PLUS DEBT the Biden-Harris administration left us, which ignited the loss of the buying power of our dollar (inflation). May God bless Trump always and keep him safe from our enemies. Lord, please deal with the evil people who are always attacking him. Amen.
Where is JD VANCE? He is a REAL LIVE, HONEST, TRUTH SPEAKING HILLBILLY WITH A SET OF VALUES THAT ARE TRUTLY AMERICAN, AND GOD LOVING, FAMILY, COUNTRY AND LEGAL AMERICANS. HE WILL BE MAGA AND AGAIN AND AGAIN….THIS CAN AND MAY BE 12 YEARS OF MAGA.
This is a random fear article. Trump will lead by doing what he says. Seek peace always, trust but verify and be ever vigilant for enemies foreign and domestic.
I rarely agree with all the sentiments in these postings, but will have to acknowledge, this article .. a reprint from ‘The Gateway Pundit’ has hit the nail on the head, as to what to expect from the Trump administration out of the next four years. If lucky enough to have the house as well as the senate, where he can perhaps get things done …. it should be an interesting, four years, and the WORLD and America both should gain from it.
IDK judging by the kate show hosts and the cows on “The View”, you’d think they’d already lost all their civil rights in a police state under Hitler! These are the ppl who think China is our “friend” & Trump is the enemy!
There is no doubt that Americans are safe now that Pres elect Donald Trump is our 47th president.
I think that Dr Graceffo’s message rings loud and clear to Americans and was well done.
When President Trump wrote “Time To Get Tough” in 2011 and updated it in 2013 he was already wise to China and warned the U.S. in the book.
The author makes a good point about the democrats claiming that Putin is NOT playing footsies with President Trump when he points out that Putin endorsed Harris as would all of the U.S.’s enemies. Harris couldn’t even manage the southern border so they knew she was not worth worrying about.
It will be an “interesting” 100 days in 2025. I’m glad we will be once again supporting Israel. That is imperative. And now it will happen. I’ve also read “Bibi” so I knew about the Gaza issues, the Golan Heights issue, and that the threat of Iran destroying Israel was not a figment of Netanyahu’s Imagination. It won’t happen now!
trump differs from Teddie Rosevelt; he doesn’t speak softly, but he’s ready to use the big stick.
I have all confidence that Trump will handle all decisions better than any president in my lifetime except maybe Eisenhower, who had the most experience in life and death decisions and the most experience with politics and international relations. Ike was in politics from the time he put a Bird on his collar and then made pressure cooker decisions as the Allied commander with people like FDR and Churchill breathing down his neck on a daily basis. Trump is the only guy to hold the office in the last century who has a similar yet actually more complex and difficult decision making experience. As CEO/owner of a multi -billion dollar international corporation his decision had a ‘life and death’ effect on him, his family and thousands of employees if he made a wrong decision. All other federal politicians and bureaucrats never have that kind of consequence anymore, nor have they before.His biggest problem won’t be international affairs or national issues, his problem is a workforce that is corrupt and virtually useless. The Deep state is real, and if he can solve that, America will truly be Great Again. That is because the reason they are ‘deep’ even if they don’t think they are is because they are Socialist and don’t even know that they are. Ridding the deep state will be the number one job which will take care of the real elephant in the room.. What, you say, is the elephant? It is a -34 Trillion dollar plus debt that the Deep state owes the American people. And that can destroy America in a heartbeat.
Everything will be better now that President Trump will be back in the White House. We needed change that is why most of the country went RED most of the Dems do not know what went wrong they just do not understand how people were living in this country. It will be better now.
Too many “America First” opponents cannot grasp the idea that AF doesn’t mean “America Only.” There’s nothing wrong with making those things in America’s best interest also America’s priorities.
The worst domestic terrorists are called Democrats, and anyone who votes for them.