Jiachen Shi
Three months into his return to the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump has churned out a series of sweeping domestic and foreign policies. The underlying motivation behind these moves is crystal clear: to solidify a loyal inner circle and consolidate power in Washington – especially as he considers seeking an unconstitutional third term. Trump’s China policy is no exception to this broader strategy.
At the same time, China is also serving as a test case for Trump’s growing authority, a reality underscored by his ongoing restructuring of the Washington bureaucracy. These changes subtly signal a shift in approach, from economic coercion to military confrontation.
In an era of deepening ideological polarization, foreign policy success is often more effective in bolstering a leader’s overall popularity than domestic policy victories. This is because successful foreign policy not only shifts public focus from internal divisions to external challenges – offering a unifying effect – but also because domestic policies take longer to yield tangible results and are unlikely to satisfy an increasingly diverse electorate.
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