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The Return of 'America First': How the 2024 election redefines the United States

The Return of 'America First': How the 2024 election redefines the United States

Vidisha Sharma


The 'Year of Global Elections', 2024, saw significant power dynamic shifts worldwide. Among these shifts, Donald Trump's campaign rhetoric captured a growing sentiment in American politics. "We have been treated so badly, mostly by allies ... our allies treat us actually worse than our so-called enemies… In the military, we protect them, and then they screw us on trade. We're not going to let it happen anymore," Trump declared in Wisconsin during his 2024 campaign (Ioanes, 2024). Throughout his bid for office, he championed the 'Make America Great Again' movement (MAGA). His election for a second term has marked the beginning of a major change in the country's political landscape, with implications for economic policies, trade, and foreign relations. The emerging policies contrast sharply with the previous administration's strategies, highlighting a fundamental shift in the United States' politics.

Despite representing substantially different ideologies, Joe Biden, during his term tried to balance traditional alliances with domestic economic priorities. He re-engaged with international allies, rejoined the Paris Agreement, and emphasised multilateralism (Chatham House, 2024). Biden showcased his commitment to collective action by rallying allies and providing support after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022. He attempted to re-engage with Iran to revive the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) after Trump's withdrawal during his first term as President. On the economic end, Biden suspended tariffs on European steel and aluminium to counter China's attempt to gain a foothold in Europe. However, with Trump's return to office, there is a clear indication of a shift toward prioritising national interests over multilateralism—a return to the "America First" approach that defined his previous administration.

In contrast to Biden's approach, President Trump's dramatic return to power is reshaping the Oval Office. Since his inauguration, he has signalled his intention to reinstate his America First agenda through decisions that shift away from multilateral frameworks in favour of prioritising domestic interests. In his first weeks, Trump has already withdrawn from the Paris Climate Agreement and initiated the process of leaving the World Health Organization—clear signals of his commitment to aligning environmental and health policies with national priorities. On the economic front, he has delivered on campaign promises by proposing import tariffs ranging from 20 per cent to 100 per cent to protect domestic industries. Additionally, his administration has called for re-evaluating the US role in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), believing that America shoulders a major chunk of the financial burden in comparison to other member states—a situation he considers unfair to American taxpayers. These decisions have garnered huge support from the voter base that elected Trump for a second term and reinforced the central tenets of his re-election campaign.

Building on his America First agenda, Trump has quickly implemented key elements of his "Make America Great Again" platform that formed the foundation of his re-election campaign. His message successfully tapped into voter concerns about stricter immigration controls, job security, and a perceived loss of traditional American values. After taking office, his administration has executed a crackdown on immigration with more stringent border controls to address what he characterises as security threats. Economically, Trump has imposed tariffs on Mexico, Canada, China and the European Union—a direct continuation of the protectionist policies mentioned earlier. The policies are rooted in the rationale that these policies will restore manufacturing jobs, a key promise of the MAGA movement. The tariffs are intended to "level the playing field" for American industries, and the reduction in corporate tax will encourage companies to reinvest domestically. The restoration of traditional American values, a key Trump's appeal among his conservative voter base, has materialised through executive orders dismantling federal oversight in education and reinstating the transgender military ban. These actions demonstrate Trump's determination to fulfil his election promises, with immigration policy emerging as an immediate priority for his second term.

Expanding on his immigration agenda, Trump has significantly intensified enforcement actions since returning to office. He invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to facilitate the mass deportations of individuals classified as national security threats, mainly targeting Venezuelan migrants (The Guardian, 2025). This move aligned with his narrative that unchecked immigration burdens the economy and poses security risks. He announced a flurry of immigration-related executive orders: expediting deportations of undocumented migrants, deploying additional forces to border regions, and halting asylum processing. While these actions fulfil a core election promise, critics argue that cracking down on immigrants might tackle the challenges of unemployment only in the short run. Although these policies resonate with his voter base, their practical effectiveness in transforming the economy and labour market remains a subject of debate among scholars and policymakers (Passel, 2024). Moreover, aggressive policies of this nature will damage relationships with other countries, especially neighbouring ones. This was seen in the Colombia case, where the Trump administration's threat of harsh tariffs and sanctions overcame Colombia's resistance to accepting deported nationals. These actions risk undermining international security cooperation and potentially worsening geopolitical instability. This creates a much more protectionist and unfriendly environment for migrants, asylum seekers and refugees. Additionally, Trump's foreign policy has intensified the ongoing geopolitical and economic rivalry between the US and China, connecting his protectionist stance to broader international relations.

Trump's renewed focus on China reflects his concern with Beijing's challenge to America's global dominance. His administration's recent decisions have intensified the rivalry, with both powers competing across sectors, having more technological prowess, economic influence, and global leadership. Trump has imposed tariffs on Chinese imports and restricted further access to semiconductor technologies to counterbalance China's expanding global market presence. Meanwhile, China continues employing geopolitical strategies like "salami-slicing" and investments in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to forge alliances and create dependencies that extend its influence beyond its borders. The technological competition between the nations has accelerated as both strive for supremacy on the global stage, further fueling their rivalry. China's opaque decision-making processes and state-driven economic model complicate cooperation, while the Trump administration's confrontational stance has deepened scepticism about bilateral relations (Hutagalung, 2025). This sharpened competition has prompted other nations to recalibrate their alignments within this complex dynamic. Ultimately, this intensified US-China rivalry exemplifies Trump's broader foreign policy shift toward transactional diplomacy over traditional alliance structures—a direct extension of his America First doctrine.

Trump's America First doctrine, as shown through his China policy, extends directly to his broader approach to foreign relations. Rather than pursuing isolationism, his administration aims to reassert American global dominance through engagement on dramatically different terms. Trump employs unconventional diplomatic strategies that challenge established international norms—a dynamic demonstrated on February 28, 2025. His meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Oval Office devolved from a planned mineral resources agreement into what observers described as a "fiery showdown." Unlike career diplomats who operate within conventional frameworks and ideological commitments, Trump's worldview is shaped by hard negotiation tactics and 'economic pragmatism'. He approaches global affairs with commercial motivation and a zero-sum mindset that has informed his strategic plans to renegotiate trade accords, pressure NATO allies to increase defence spending, and advocate for transactional agreements in international security (Khurshid, 2025). These approaches directly reflect Trump's prioritisation of American interests above all else. However, this fundamental shift in US foreign policy creates a significant challenge: balancing narrowly defined national interests against the complexities of global commitments that have defined American leadership for decades.

A critical challenge faced by Trump in his second term will certainly be to balance national sovereignty against international cooperation. This radical shift towards a transactional foreign policy approach in American positioning raises concerns about America's role in global governance. Trump's decision to retreat from the international forums has also raised questions about the US commitment to NATO. European leaders are already preparing contingency plans: French President Emmanuel Macron has warned that Europe must recognise Russia as a genuine threat and declared France's willingness to extend its "nuclear umbrella" to European allies, arguing that the European Union must pursue a more independent defence policy. This pattern of disengagement extends to environmental policy, with Trump again withdrawing from the Paris Agreement—consistent with his dismissal of climate change as a "hoax" and his prioritisation of economic gains from fossil fuel development over long-term sustainability goals. These decisions collectively risk eroding America's traditional alliances and leadership position.

In conclusion, Trump's America faces the complex challenge of navigating between its international commitments and domestic priorities. By the end of his four-year term, which began January 25, 2025, the United States may experience considerable democratic recalibration as a result of his administration's policy decisions. This transformation could fundamentally alter America's identity as a "beacon of democracy." Alternatively, the international community might adapt to Trump's unconventional approach, essentially reshaping established diplomatic norms. Whether this America First doctrine ultimately strengthens the nation's global standing or leads to isolation will depend on how effectively the administration navigates evolving global dynamics while addressing the tensions between national interests and international responsibilities that have defined Trump's return to power.

*Vidisha Sharma is pursuing MA International Studies (2024-26 batch) at the Symbiosis School of International Studies (SSIS), Pune