After the Peaceful Trump Years, Harris is Left Defending the Current Chaos

• Trump highlights peace deals and military strength as his foreign policy successes

• Harris’ tenure faces criticism over Afghanistan and border security

• Polls show Trump is more trusted on national security

Where Trump stands

Donald Trump boasts that during his presidential term, his national security policies created peace in the Middle East and did not start any new wars while he oversaw the near-complete destruction of ISIS — who had been terrorizing the Western world for a decade.

Trump prioritizes strengthening the military, securing American borders, and reducing US reliance on foreign alliances. Securing the US-Mexico border is a major part of his national security platform, as well as “preventing World War Three.”

To his opponents’ dismay, Trump also forced America’s NATO allies to boost their spending requirements, with several member countries boosting their spending past the two percent mark after Trump criticized them as being free-riders on the US.

Trump’s “Agenda 47” emphasizes a vision similar to the goals he promoted during his first term. On China, Trump has pledged to aggressively counter Beijing’s influence with 100 to 200 percent tariffs on certain Chinese products to protect American manufacturing from unfair competition.

Additionally, Trump’s administration created the Abraham Accords, which normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations, fostering diplomatic, economic, and security cooperation in the Middle East. For a brief interlude, the Middle East was relatively stable during the Trump years.

In contrast to the current administration, Trump argues that he is uniquely equipped to handle global security threats, having previously implemented these strategies successfully.

Conservatives criticize President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris for what they see as a lack of effective border policies and a more conciliatory approach toward China.

And on Iran, Trump and his conservative allies draw attention to the billions of dollars Biden and former President Barack Obama have handed over to the Iranian regime, which they use to fund terrorist groups like Hamas, Hezbollah, and the Houthis.

Where Harris stands

Biden and Harris entered office with goals of reestablishing alliances and promoting democratic values, offering a contrast with what they viewed as Trump’s unpredictability and chaos.

However, the Afghanistan withdrawal left a profound impact on the administration, marked by the deaths of 13 American service members and haunting images of Afghan civilians clinging to final planes escaping Kabul.

This setback, alongside perceived inconsistencies in handling relationships with countries like Israel and Iran, has led some to question Harris’s ability to execute foreign policy effectively.

For her potential next term, Harris has outlined plans to reinforce commitments to international coalitions and climate action, though she has not laid out a very in-depth foreign policy vision.

She emphasizes the importance of rejoining and actively participating in multilateral agreements, positioning climate change as a top priority through green partnerships and economic aid — all standard Democratic priorities.

Her critics remain skeptical of her abilities to keep America safe. Harris spent her career as a California prosecutor and then had few foreign policy achievements to boast about during her time as vice president.

Under Biden and Harris, foreign policy crises have multiplied: Russia invaded Ukraine shortly after they took office, Hamas launched a brutal assault, killing over a thousand Israelis, and vast numbers of criminals and potential terrorists have reportedly crossed the US-Mexico border.

Now, Harris has introduced a mildly stronger tone on securing the border and contrasts herself with Trump by claiming she will be tough on America’s enemies like Russia’s Vladimir Putin and China’s Xi Jinping.

Whether this vision resonates with voters depends largely on her ability to reassure the public that her strategies will improve upon the perceived missteps of her current administration.

Why it matters

Overall, American voters trust Donald Trump to handle foreign policy issues more than Kamala Harris.

Trump is criticized for violating the conventional wisdom of the foreign policy establishment, such as when he criticized the Iraq War and radical interventionism abroad. Biden and Harris, meanwhile, are accused of downright incompetence on foreign policy.

At a time when the world appears to be engulfed in a violent craze, voters may find themselves reflecting on the relative peace of just a few years ago.