The Revival of Isolationism under the Trump Administration

Abstract

Since taking office, Trump has adhered to the policy tenet of America First, with unilateralism as the course of action. At the same time, the Trump administration is also deliberately reducing the international responsibilities borne by the US and emphasizing the principles of fairness and transaction in foreign dealings. Some scholars see this series of actions as a trend towards a return to isolationism. This paper revolves around isolationist foreign policy, more focuses on the revival of isolationism since the Trump administration took office, discusses the Trump administration's foreign policy with its isolationist character. This paper further points out that, given the relative weakening of US international influence, the loss of US manufacturing and the decline in people's living standards, and Trump's mercantilist overtones, the Trump administration has changed its long-held liberal internationalist diplomatic course in favour of a partial return to traditional isolationism. It has profoundly affected the US domestic and world landscape. This study can help to understand the shift in the guiding philosophy of US diplomacy and provide background information on how to develop relations with the US in the new context.