In the final days of his most recent presidential campaign, Donald Trump painted himself as a peacemaker, a stark contrast to his opponent who he claimed would bring “only death and destruction.” At a Michigan rally, he even went so far as to proclaim, “I am peace.” This messaging resonated with war-weary voters hoping for a reprieve from America’s “forever wars.” But as Trump assembles his new administration, his cabinet picks tell a very different story – one of interventionism, regime change, and military aggression.
Trump’s selection of Marco Rubio as his secretary of state is perhaps the clearest indication that his dovish rhetoric was just another empty promise. The Florida senator has consistently advocated for a hawkish foreign policy, backing regime change efforts in Cuba, Venezuela, Iran, and Syria. He defended the invasion of Iraq and has opposed troop withdrawals from Afghanistan and Syria. Rubio’s stance on the Israel-Palestine conflict is particularly troubling; he dismisses Palestinian civilians as “savages” who must be “eradicated.”
A Cabinet of Hawks
But Rubio is far from the only hawk in Trump’s inner circle. His pick for UN ambassador, Elise Stefanik, has a long history of supporting military interventionism through her work at neoconservative think tanks. She backs unrestricted weapons sales to Israel and has called for “total victory” against Hamas. Trump’s choice for national security adviser, Mike Waltz, is a vocal advocate for prolonged counterterrorism efforts and has criticized drawdowns in Afghanistan.
Even more concerning is Waltz’s connection to Dick Cheney, having served as his counterterrorism adviser. Trump lambasted the Cheneys on the campaign trail, only to tap one of their proteges for a key role shortly after his victory. This hypocrisy is par for the course for Trump, who has a habit of saying one thing to get elected and doing the opposite once in office.
“Donald the Dove”? If only. Whether it is on domestic policy or foreign policy, Trump remains a con man.
–Maureen Dowd, New York Times
Diplomacy Takes a Backseat
The State Department, which should be a bastion of diplomacy, is being reshaped by unapologetic hawks under Trump. Brian Hook, who crafted the failed “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, is running Trump’s transition team there. Trump’s pick for ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, denies the existence of the West Bank and has compared the Iran nuclear deal to the Holocaust, showcasing an utter disregard for diplomacy and compromise.
At the Pentagon, Trump has tapped Fox News commentator Pete Hegseth, an Iraq War booster who encouraged attacks on Iranian cultural sites and lobbied Trump to pardon accused war criminals. With advisers like these, it’s hard to envision Trump pursuing anything resembling a peaceful foreign policy agenda.
Brace for Impact
All signs point to Trump’s second term being defined by the same militaristic approach that marked his first, despite his best efforts to brand himself as a peacemaker. The American people should brace themselves for:
- Escalating tensions with Iran, possibly leading to war
- Unwavering support for Israel’s aggression against Palestinians
- Prolonged troop presences in the Middle East and Afghanistan
- Increased saber-rattling toward China and other adversaries
- A State Department sidelined in favor of military solutions
Despite the bleak outlook, engaged citizens still have a role to play in advocating for a more peaceful and restrained foreign policy. Grassroots movements and vocal political opposition can put pressure on the administration and temper its worst hawks’ influence. While Trump himself may be a lost cause, not everyone in his orbit is an unreachable ideologue. Diplomacy-minded officials must be empowered to counter the hawks’ most dangerous impulses.
Ultimately, Trump’s modus operandi hasn’t changed – he still governs by deception, making promises he has no intention of keeping. His “candidate of peace” act was simply the latest con from a consummate political fraud, and one with potentially devastating consequences for America and the world. The coming years will test the strength of our democracy and the public’s resolve in demanding an end to ruinous forever wars and reckless military adventurism.
