Memorandum on the Trump Administration's Foreign Policy

TO: John F. Kelly, White House Chief of Staff

FROM: Nicole Levesque, American Foreign Policy Student

DATE: March 16, 2018

SUBJECT: Trump Administration’s Foreign Policy Communication 

SUMMARY

The Trump Administration has demonstrated a notable distinction between Donald Trump's policy ideals and the administration's actions. The National Security Strategy reports often contradict what the president conveys to the public, which damages the credibility of both parties. The apparent lack of consistency and communication between members of the same group is harmful for the credibility of the United States' perception of its foreign policy initiatives by both the American people and foreign parties. 

CONTEXT

President Trump campaigned on strong foreign policy initiatives such as building a wall on the Mexican border to prevent illegal immigration and on stopping Islamic terrorism, both of which are complicated situations which require more complex solutions than what the president has proposed.  His administration has failed to build a wall, American troops are still actively fighting terrorist groups such as the Islamic State, and Trump's voters are still holding out for the policies for which they voted for the current president. This pattern is evident in the speeches that Trump makes and the language that he uses, as he appears impassioned and ready to take action when his constituents press for changes, but many of these changes do not take place.  This problem is consistent with several past presidential administrations, as American presidents are often perceived as being in more powerful positions than they are, but Trump's campaign depended on him breaking from the political norm and following through with promises where past presidents have not done so.  The inconsistency between the president’s communication with his constituents and the communication and actions of his administration creates confusion and a perception of illegitimacy.

EVIDENCE

An analysis of the foreign policy initiatives of this administration show several examples of this disconnect.  President Trump speaks about the importance of democracy and of protecting the international power that the United States has, but he and his administration have not implemented Congress' proposed sanctions on Russia, and he has publicly spoken positively about authoritative world leaders such as Vladamir Putin, Mohammad bin Salman, and Rodrigo Duterte.  The President has been a strong advocate for international trade and American dominance, but he and his administration has pulled the country out of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, which stands in contrast to his stated focus on trade. Recent efforts to protect American industry are expected to hurt international trade, but his administration is implementing the proposed tariffs although they do not support his stated support for trade.  President Trump campaigned on the premise that troops should be removed from active conflicts to focus on nation-building at home, and yet he has continued Barack Obama's End of ISIS policy, as his strategy for defeating foreign terrorism has not been effective, which has prevented him from shifting his efforts to domestic issues. 

TASK AND IMPLEMENTATION 

In order to bridge the gap between President Trump's rhetoric and the actions of his administration, there is a crucial need for consistency and the proper planning before press conferences take place.  In order to successfully compose and implement foreign policy with support of the American people, the Trump Administration needs to take steps to monitor President Trump’s public statements, and to prioritize foreign policy initiatives that correspond to previously stated policy goals.  As the National Security Strategy is a long-term plan that is prepared in advance to crises and to individual conferences and statements made by the President, better communication between the members of the administration could decrease the overall inconsistency and confusion that the American people experience when considering the current administration's stance on foreign policy issues.  This process could begin with closer supervision of the President's tweets and personal communication with his constituents, as to assure that it aligns with the released National Security Strategy and his Administration's stated stances on the issues that the President addresses. Crises and unexpected changes within Congress are inevitable, but with the proper planning and cognizance of the reoccurring issues could allow for a smoother and more consistent plan with less confusion for the American people.

CLOSING STATEMENT

The president’s public image and high expectations for sudden and effective policy changes can be harmful for the perception of the President's power and his relationship with his Administration.  The proper planning and dedication to a consistent National Security Strategy and the selection and portrayal of information made public would greatly reduce anger and confusion among Americans who are unhappy with unfulfilled promises, and a more favorable image of President Trump himself would make the United States more respected, both domestically and internationally.