Elise Stefanik, an allegedly rising star of the Republican Party and a staunch ally of Donald Trump, faces a near-impossible challenge: convincing the world that the United States is still a reliable global leader. After four years of Trump’s presidency in his first term—marked by unprecedented isolationism, abrupt policy decisions, and blatant disregard for established alliances—rebuilding the credibility of American foreign policy is like trying to fix a crumbling dam with duct tape and now he’s back with all new shenanigans.
Duh Diedre: Donald Trump’s tenure as the top executive is a masterclass in alienating the world. He has already gotten the ball rolling by withdrawing from major international agreements like the Paris Climate Accord (what is it with him and this accord?), severed ties with the World Health Organization (because of the lies he spread during a global pandemic, no less), and has routinely threatened allies and adversaries alike with tariffs and sanctions. Whether it was labeling NATO “obsolete” or cozying up to autocrats like Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un, Trump’s foreign policy seemed less like a calculated strategy and more like a reality show plot twist. And now, the U.S. will be picking up the pieces of this global mess long after this idiot is gone.
The Damage Done: America as an Unreliable Partner
One of the central tenets of U.S. foreign policy for decades has been the notion of stability. Love it or hate it, America’s global leadership—rooted in post-WWII institutions like NATO, the UN, and trade agreements—meant that allies could at least count on the U.S. to act in predictable ways. But Trump tossed that playbook out the window in his first term. Biden never stood a chance.
Take his insistence on the withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord as an example. The agreement wasn’t just about combating climate change—it was about showing the world that the U.S. was willing to lead on an issue that impacts all of humanity. By pulling out, Trump has signaled that America is no longer interested in multilateral cooperation. Yes, because he is our leader, he speaks for all of us. Don’t like that, you shouldn’t have voted for him. You shouldn’t have normalized his behavior. You should have demanded that his place should be behind bars for the crimes he committed. Similarly, threatening trade wars with longtime allies like Canada, Mexico, and the European Union (while rolling out the red carpet for others like North Korea, Saudi Arabia and China) has sent the message that U.S. alliances are transactional, fleeting, and dependent entirely on Trump’s whims.
For leaders like Stefanik, who have embraced Trump’s brand of politics, the question is: how do you rebuild trust with global leaders who’ve watched America’s reliability evaporate?
Trump’s Isolationism: The Long-Term Consequences
The impacts of Trump’s foreign policy will linger like a bad aftertaste. While the Biden administration made strides in rejoining international agreements and reaffirming alliances, the damage to America’s reputation is not easily undone. Leaders around the world now know that America’s commitments can be undone with the stroke of a pen—or a midnight tweet. They’ve seen the U.S. pivot from championing democracy to cozying up to authoritarian regimes. They’ve watched as domestic partisanship spilled over into foreign policy, with figures like Stefanik doubling down on Trumpian rhetoric.
This newfound skepticism of American leadership could have long-term ramifications. Allies may start looking elsewhere for leadership—Europe has already begun exploring a more independent defense posture, and countries like China are seizing the opportunity to fill the power vacuum left by U.S. disengagement. The global stage is changing, and Trump’s foreign policy choices have accelerated that shift. And as I always posit, capitalism always has shifts when it is about to collapse. This has all of the signals of that happening. As a matter of fact, it is happening now.
Elise Stefanik’s Dilemma
Elise Stefanik’s loyalty to Trump is well-documented. From parroting his baseless claims of election fraud to doubling down on his “America First” rhetoric, she has tied her political brand to his. But this loyalty poses a serious dilemma when it comes to foreign policy. If Stefanik wants to position herself as a serious contender in shaping U.S. foreign relations, she must confront the contradictions between Trump’s isolationist policies and the globalist expectations of American leadership.
It’s not enough to say, “America is back.” The world doesn’t just need slogans—it needs actions. But actions require credibility, and Stefanik’s allegiance to Trump has left her in a position where she must simultaneously defend his lunacy and convince allies that the U.S. can be trusted. How do you build bridges with the very leaders Trump publicly insulted, dismissed, or threatened?
Where Does This Leave Us?
Ultimately, the chaos of Trump’s foreign policy doesn’t just impact diplomats and world leaders—it affects everyday Americans. When alliances crumble, global stability is shaken. When tariffs are slapped on imports, prices rise for consumers. When climate agreements are abandoned, the consequences of inaction fall hardest on future generations. For the average U.S. citizen, the question is: why should we care about foreign policy when so many domestic issues demand attention?
The answer is simple: America does not exist in a vacuum. And nothing good ever happens when you put your head in the sand. Whether it’s global trade, national security, or the climate crisis, what happens in the world reverberates here at home. And if leaders like Stefanik can’t convince the world to take us seriously, the citizens of this country will be left isolated, economically disadvantaged, and vulnerable in an increasingly interconnected world.
If Elise Stefanik truly wants to lead the U.S. as globally credible, she needs to start with honesty. That means acknowledging the failures of Trump’s foreign policy from earlier, instead of whitewashing them. It means prioritizing collaboration over confrontation. It means rebuilding alliances, re-investing in multilateral agreements, and demonstrating that America values its partners. Above all, it means putting the needs of the country above loyalty to one man’s ego.
The world is watching, and history will judge. The question is: will leaders like Stefanik rise to the occasion, or will they continue to cling to the legacy of a president who has made the U.S. a global laughingstock? The answer will determine not just the fate of American foreign policy, but the standing of every U.S. citizen in a world that is increasingly skeptical of our intentions.
This is a freakin’ mess. Trump’s foreign policy doesn’t just break norms—it breaks trust. And we have been sitting around normalizing it for the sake of unity? For Elise Stefanik to even attempt to clean it up, she’ll have to choose between clinging to Trump’s coattails or embracing a broader, bolder vision for America’s role in the world.
Another question is still left on the table though: does she have the courage to do what’s right, or will she continue to change colors like the seasons?