Days after his victory in the presidential election held on November 5, 2024, the newly elected American President Donald Trump began appointing several loyalists to senior positions in his second administration to implement the agenda of the upcoming Republican administration, which is rooted in his “America First” approach. Trump aims to solidify this during his presidency amid an increasingly complex global environment. Among Trump’s notable nominations is Senator Marco Rubio, who will be the first Latino to serve as Secretary of State, along with Pete Hegseth for Defense Secretary, Elise Stefanik as the next U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and John Ratcliffe as CIA Director. The elected president appointed Tulsi Gabbard as National Intelligence Director and Michael Waltz as National Security Advisor, while Mike Huckabee was named U.S. Ambassador to Israel and Stephen Wietkowitz as Special Envoy to the Middle East.
Key Features
The choices of the newly elected American President Donald Trump for foreign policy, intelligence, and defense officials in his upcoming administration reveal the determinants of policy through which Washington will address the major security and political challenges, including:
Continued Unconditional American Support for Israel: Trump’s nomination of former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee as Washington’s ambassador to Tel Aviv is a clear indicator of the incoming Republican administration’s pro-Israel stance amid many escalating crises in the Middle East. This comes as Israeli military operations in Gaza continue following the “Al-Aqsa Flood” attack on October 7, 2023, and military strikes in southern Lebanon, where the Lebanese Hezbollah has formed a support front for the Palestinian front since the onset of Israeli military operations. Huckabee’s history indicates support for Israeli settlements in the West Bank; during his campaign for the Republican nomination in the 2016 presidential primaries, he rejected the idea of the “occupied West Bank.” Instead, he referred to it using biblical terms “Judea and Samaria,” and he previously stated that Palestinians desiring their own state should look elsewhere.
He has also criticized President Joe Biden for pressuring Israel regarding its military operations in Gaza. Following his nomination, Huckabee reminded that Trump provided unprecedented support to Israel during his first term, from moving the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem to recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, adding that he expects this support to continue. Given Huckabee’s appointment and Trump’s previous support for Israel, it is likely that the incoming Republican administration will strongly back Israeli military operations in Gaza. This could lead to increased tensions with Arab nations that will oppose U.S. plans and policies regarding the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which will diverge from the traditional foundations that governed the U.S. role in the peace process, threatening their interests and national security in favor of serving Israeli interests. This may complicate American relations in the Middle East, with U.S. policies offering further unconditional support to Tel Aviv, which surpasses the support provided by the Biden administration, stirring discontent among U.S.-allied Arab states and a retreat from supporting the two-state solution.
Selection of a Hawkish Team Against China: Trump’s appointments indicate the formation of a hawkish team to confront China, including Senator Marco Rubio as Secretary of State and Representative Michael Waltz as National Security Adviser, both known for their sharp stances against China. Rubio’s appointment, as he is under Chinese sanctions and barred from entering China, symbolizes further escalation in relations between Washington and Beijing, while Waltz, known for his harsh statements toward China, describes the relationship as a “Cold War” and is one of the staunchest critics of the Chinese Communist Party in Congress. Robert Lighthizer, who aims to significantly restrict China’s access to American markets, is expected to serve as the U.S. Trade Representative in the new administration, which will pose significant challenges for the Chinese economy. Trump’s appointments suggest that China will remain at the forefront of challenges that will guide his administration’s foreign policy, likely adopting a more confrontational approach toward Beijing. This could manifest in increased economic pressure and technological restrictions against China, along with bolstering the U.S. military presence in the Indo-Pacific region, potentially exacerbating tensions and igniting new trade conflicts.
Continuation of the “Maximum Pressure” Approach on Iran: Previous comments from several individuals chosen by Trump to oversee shaping foreign policy for the Republican administration regarding Iran indicate a continuation of the former president’s approach adopted during his first administration based on a strategy of maximum pressure. Many officials in the upcoming administration hold hardline positions toward Iran. Brian Hook, the former U.S. envoy for Iran during Trump’s first term, who leads the presidential transition team at the State Department, is expected to play a significant role in the next administration. Hook oversaw Trump’s maximum pressure campaign on Iran during the first term, signaling a continuation and possible intensification of this approach. This appointment, alongside Marco Rubio and Michael Waltz—both of whom are known for their anti-Iran stances and support for increased sanctions against it, along with other American hawks who are likely to join Trump’s foreign policy team—suggests that the strategy of the upcoming administration will focus on weakening the regime rather than engaging in diplomacy with it.
Fulfillment of Trump’s Commitment to Ending the Ukrainian War: The majority of comments from senior officials in the American administration indicate significant doubts about the continuation of U.S. military aid to Ukraine; they point out that the Democratic administration’s failure to consider Russian security concerns is the primary cause of the Russian-Ukrainian war. Trump’s foreign policy regarding the Russian-Ukrainian conflict is expected to be influenced by his declared goal of ending the war; during his campaign, Trump expressed a desire to mediate peace between Moscow and Kyiv, which may suggest a shift from the Biden administration’s approach of providing extensive military assistance to Ukraine. Trump’s selections for his foreign policy team, which includes figures like Rubio, Waltz, and Stefanik, indicate a reorientation of the American strategy toward the Russian-Ukrainian conflict; the administration is likely to prioritize negotiation and conflict resolution over prolonged military support. This shift could have significant implications for the ongoing conflict and the broader geopolitical landscape in Eastern Europe.
Increased Pressure on Washington’s Allies: Trump’s relationship with NATO and traditional allies was complex and controversial during his first administration. The approach in his appointments reveals that this trend will continue; thus, allies may face increased pressure to contribute more significantly to collective defense burdens and align more closely with U.S. interests. While Rubio played a key role in securing U.S. support for NATO, he and Waltz have recently adjusted their stances to align more closely with Trump’s skepticism regarding ongoing U.S. military assistance to Ukraine. This shift indicates that U.S. support for European allies, particularly in the context of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, may diminish. Concerns persist among military and diplomatic officials in Europe and Asia regarding the potential withdrawal of the U.S. from international commitments, which could lead to increased regional instability. Hegseth has criticized U.S. allies in NATO and expressed frustration that the U.S. bears the burden of the alliance’s defense, which could escalate tensions within the alliance and erode trust and cooperation between the U.S. and its European partners. Hegseth’s views align with Trump’s demands for NATO members to increase their defense spending, potentially leading to intensified pressure on European allies to meet or exceed the military spending target of 2% of GDP.
Revival of the Slogan
In conclusion, Trump’s appointments to key positions in foreign policy and national security over the next four years reveal a revival of the “America First” slogan, prioritizing perceived American interests over international cooperation. They indicate that President Donald Trump’s second administration is preparing to adopt a more aggressive, unilateral foreign policy, potentially redefining the United States’ role in global affairs. While this approach may appeal to Trump’s base, it also risks further straining relations with allies and could lead to increased global instability.
