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In recent months, President Donald J. Trump has taken a series of controversial actions that have raised concerns both domestically and internationally. His assertive tariff policies, such as imposing a 145% tariff on China, have strained diplomatic relations and unsettled international markets (BBC News). The Journal of Chinese Economic and Business Studies analyzes Trump’s potential consequences of President Trump’s tariff increases on Chinese imports, where research suggests that proposals like reducing or restructuring federal agencies, including the Department of Education, further reflect a broader pattern of administrative unpredictability. However, there is limited coverage on how these actions affect the global stage. Some analysts argue that elements of Trump’s communication and policy style resemble tactics used to introduce uncertainty for U.S. allies, destabilize international markets, and damage the United States’ global reputation. 

“Tariff battle” graph using data from the White House – USA, China’s Ministry of Finance (graphic from India Today).

Ambiguity for Allies

One significant effect of Trump’s approach was a reported erosion of trust between the United States and its traditional allies. Trump often used unpredictability as a deliberate strategy, claiming it gave the U.S. an advantage in negotiations. However, this unpredictability made it nearly impossible for allied nations to coordinate or rely on the U.S. as a stable partner. For example, during his presidency, Trump frequently criticized NATO members for not meeting defense spending targets, even threatening to withdraw from the alliance entirely (Oxford Academic). These statements, although not always followed through, created confusion among European allies about the future of collective defense agreements that had stood for decades.

Moreover, his frequent reversals on key diplomatic positions, such as pulling out of the Paris Climate Accord and the Iran nuclear deal left allies scrambling to adjust to a rapidly shifting U.S. foreign policy. According to research conducted by Environmental Politics, the implications of the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement undermines the global efforts to combat climate change, leading to a significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions. According to some researchers, Trump’s actions “shook the foundational assumptions of international environmental governance” (Falkner 2019). On the other hand, the United States withdrew from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), most widely known as the Iran Nuclear Deal back in May 2018. This effort included countries such as the United Kingdom, France, Germany, China, and Russia all negotiating and upholding the deal. However, when the United States decided to withdraw from the deal, this left European allies at odds. According to the American Journal of International Law, this action led to transatlantic tensions and the creation of the European Union’s Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (INSTEX) as a result to sidestep U.S. sanctions.

“INSTEX Logo” via Instex Europe.

Turbulence in Global Markets

Another critical consequence of Trump’s approach is the destabilization of international financial markets. His use of tariffs and threats of economic sanctions often came suddenly and without warning, creating uncertainty in global trade systems. For instance, the 145% tariff on Chinese goods in 2018 was not just an economic move, it was interpreted by some observers as a strategic move to assert economic pressure and leverage concessions. However, it sparked a trade war that disrupted global supply chains, drove up costs for American businesses and consumers, and made the international stock markets quite unpredictable. The Council on Foreign Relations stated “Trump administration officials can attempt to frame the trade talk as achieving the goal of ‘strategic decoupling.’ In reality, they have lost their credibility and given China more leverage.”

Investors tend to thrive on stability and predictability, and Trump’s habit of making major economic announcements via social media, often in the form of inflammatory tweets undermined both. Markets routinely responded with sharp swings, reflecting anxiety over what might come next. Trump’s communication style and policy decisions contributed to an atmosphere where no economic relationship felt secure, and every policy move had the potential to cause wide-reaching financial disruption. While some viewed his style as tough negotiation, in practice it discouraged long-term investment and eroded confidence in the U.S. as a steady economic leader.

Damage to the U.S. Global Reputation

Perhaps the most lasting impact of Trump’s foreign policy approach is the degradation of America’s moral and diplomatic authority. Historically, the U.S. has positioned itself as a beacon of liberal democratic values and a defender of international norms. Under Trump, however, that image suffered greatly. His unconventional communication style, public criticisms of media institutions, and admiration for authoritarian leaders raised concerns about the United States’ ongoing commitment to its traditional international leadership role.

International public opinion surveys, including those conducted by the Pew Research Center, showed significant drops in confidence in U.S. leadership during the Trump era. The survey was conducted across 34 countries, where only 28% expressed their confidence in Trump’s leadership to do the right thing, whereas 69% did not. This decline reflects a significant erosion in America’s global reputation during his presidency (see Fig. 1). 

Fig. 1: Data taken from Pew Research Center.

Foreign leaders, once accustomed to relying on U.S. diplomacy and strategic consistency, found themselves alienated by Trump’s transactional mindset and his tendency to frame international relationships as zero-sum games. In many ways, the very tactics that were meant to “make America great again” contributed to its isolation on the world stage.

Additionally, by using chaos and disruption as a method of control, some critics drew comparisons between Trump’s approach and certain authoritarian tactics. His dismissal of international agreements, denigration of immigrants, and preference for nationalist strategies used by autocratic regimes to consolidate power through fear and confusion. These parallels not only concerned allies but emboldened adversaries, who saw in Trump’s leadership a weakening of the democratic ideals the U.S. once championed. According to Joseph Nye in Do Morals Matter? Presidents and Foreign Policy, Trump’s “America’s First” approach and rejection of global cooperation “damaged the soft power of the United States,” causing foreign publics and allies to lose confidence in America’s global leadership and credibility (Nye 173). 

Conclusion

Donald Trump’s presidency was marked by a confrontational approach to international affairs that introduced widespread ambiguity in global relations. His decision-making strained alliances, shook global markets, and has done some damage to America’s reputation as a reliable and principle leader. While some may argue that these tactics were part of a broader strategy to realign global power in America’s favor, the diplomatic fallout, reduced trust from allies, and economic uncertainty may have outlasted any short-term gains. As the world moves forward, the legacy of Trump’s psychological approach to power remains a cautionary tale about the limits of disruption as a tool of diplomacy.

Works Cited

“Across 34 Countries, Few Trust Trump to Handle World Affairs.” Pew Research Center, 10 June 2024, Accessed 20 May 2025.

Bomberg, E. (2021). The environmental legacy of President Trump. Policy Studies, 42(5–6), 628–645. https://doi.org/10.1080/01442872.2021.1922660

Clarke, Jennifer. “What Are Tariffs, How Do They Work and Why Is Trump Using Them?” BBC News, BBC, 12 May 2025, http://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cn93e12rypgo?

INSTEX Logo. Instex-Europe.Com. Accessed 20 May 2025.

“Iran and United States Continue to Implement Nuclear Deal, Although Disputes Persist.” The American Journal of International Law, vol. 110, no. 4, 2016, pp. 789–95. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5305/amerjintelaw.110.4.0789. Accessed 21 May 2025.

Kaufman, Joyce P. “US Perspective on NATO under Trump: Lessons of the Past and Prospects for the Future | International Affairs | Oxford Academic.” International Affairs, 1 Mar. 2017, academic.oup.com/ia/article/93/2/251/2996077.

Liu, Zongyuan Zoe. “Trump’s China Truce on Tariffs Comes at Cost to U.S. Credibility.” Council on Foreign Relations, Council on Foreign Relations, 12 May 2025, http://www.cfr.org/expert-brief/trumps-china-truce-tariffs-comes-cost-us-credibility.

Milani, Abbas. “The Imprudence of Unilateral US Withdrawal from the Iran Nuclear Deal.” Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 8 May 2018, thebulletin.org/commentary/the-imprudence-of-unilateral-us-withdrawal-from-the-iran-nuclear-deal/.

Nye, J. S. (2021). Do morals matter?: Presidents and foreign policy from FDR to trump. Oxford University Press. 

Rai, Dipu. “Tit-for-Tat Tariffs U.S. VS China.” 11 Apr. 2025, Accessed 21 May 2025.

Rosyadi, S. A., & Widodo, T. (2018). Impact of Donald Trump’s tariff increase against Chinese imports on global economy: Global Trade Analysis Project (GTAP) model. Journal of Chinese Economic and Business Studies, 16(2), 125–145. https://doi.org/10.1080/14765284.2018.1427930 

Zhunisbek, Abulkhairkhan. “Potential Consequences of the U.S. Withdrawal from the JCPOA.” Eurasian Research Institute, http://www.eurasian-research.org/publication/potential-consequences-of-the-u-s-withdrawal-from-the-jcpoa/. Accessed 21 May 2025. 

About the Author

I’m Carly Ochgerel, I am a first-year student attending the University of Virginia in Virginia, United States of America! I am studying Political Philosophy, Policy, & Law (PPL) and Cognitive Science, hoping to pursue a career in medical law. I have plans to minor in Foreign Affairs or change my major, perhaps! I have experience in writing in the past as an editor of the Sterling Volunteer Fire Company’s newsletters and worked as an academic writing mentor for students to write their college essays, research papers, or any other form of writing. I hope to accomplish great things working as an International Affairs Writer at International Angles!

This post was written on May 21st 2025.