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Donald Trump, the Neoconservative
The National Interest ^ | Sep 2025 | Jennifer Brick Murtazashvili

Posted on 11/08/2025 7:57:41 AM PST by CondoleezzaProtege

Donald Trump is often described as a “populist,” a “nationalist,” or as someone who sits outside the traditional ideological categories. However, when one examines his foreign policy closely, a different picture emerges. Trump is, in practice, a neoconservative.

He is not a neoconservative in the sense we once knew: he does not cloak American interventions in the language of democracy promotion, human rights, or universal values…What makes him distinctive is not the substance of his policies, but the way he frames them, stripped of the moralizing tone. Oddly enough, this makes his foreign policy more transparent—and perhaps, in some ways, more refreshing.

Classical neoconservatism was never only about hawkish foreign policy. It was about the marriage of power and ideals..Its architects spoke of freedom as a guiding principle and cast interventions as noble missions to uplift societies. The failures in Iraq and Afghanistan discredited much of this idealism, but at least the worldview maintained coherence: American force was justified because it was said to serve universal values.

Trump’s foreign policy, however, looks strikingly similar in its outcomes yet arrives without the pretense. Take Israel. Trump is perhaps the most pro-Israel president in American history. He moved the US embassy to Jerusalem, recognized Israeli sovereignty over the Golan Heights, and midwifed the Abraham Accords… Yet Trump did not package these moves as part of a grand moral project.

Or consider Ukraine. Despite his soft rhetoric toward Vladimir Putin, Trump approved lethal aid for Kyiv in his first term, a step that the Obama administration avoided...

The most striking example may be Afghanistan. Trump criticized “forever wars” and promised withdrawals, but he has also recently floated the idea of returning to Afghanistan after the Biden administration’s chaotic exit.

(Excerpt) Read more at nationalinterest.org ...


TOPICS: History
KEYWORDS: afghanistan; brickmurtazashvili; brics; bricsmurtazashvili; keywordtrolls; maga; middleeast; multiplenicks; neocon; neoconservatism; nevertrumping; randpaulsucks; trollfarm; trump; trumpswar; tuckercarlson; tuckerqatarlson; ukraine

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To: JonPreston

“He has too much common sense to follow the warpigs into a blind corner.”

That is my read as well—and how I read Vance’s views as well.

It is a pragmatic but not purist form of America First.

I am OK with that.


21 posted on 11/08/2025 8:41:36 AM PST by cgbg ("The truth is not for all men, but only for those who seek it.")
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To: Carry_Okie

He wants Bagram Air Base because its next to Iran.

Pakistan’s military leader who really runs the country had lunch with President Trump at the WH back in June.

Now Pakistan fighting the Taliban they created in the first place when Taliban took over Afghanistan in 1990’s.

Taliban being pressured to give this base for use against Iran IMHO. China would be long term goal start a jihad in Muslim Western China that’s true.

Bush-Neocons went into Iraq and Afghanistan after 9/11 because Iran was in the middile.


22 posted on 11/08/2025 8:41:53 AM PST by Nextrush (FREEDOM IS EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS, REMEMBER REV; NIEMOLLER)
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To: CondoleezzaProtege
“I don’t know if you know this or not, but as swampy as D.C. — we’re about just as swampy in Austin, Texas as well.” - Rep. Nate Schatzline (R-Fort Worth)

Swampy? Tell me when Greg Abbott sends Texas troops on the ground to Israel.

Keep on smoking whatever you and Tucker are smoking.

23 posted on 11/08/2025 8:42:03 AM PST by DallasBiff (Apology not accepted.la is not the sharpest knife in the drawer)
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To: x

“but when you’re president of the United States it’s hard not to use the tools you have at hand, so it’s possible he’ll follow past presidents in going too far.”

***********

Trump clearly relishes the notion of being a world leader. The grandiosity of it all seems to appeal to him. The problem with this is that there is literally no end to the number of problems in the world; its a never ending parade of disputes and conflicts. Meanwhile, we are in desperate need of modernizing our own country. I think think this would be good for our national interest, economy, the employment situation, and security. Lots of urgent work to do here at home. America First.


24 posted on 11/08/2025 8:43:03 AM PST by Starboard
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

honestly trump has been too neocon for my tastes.
We should sanction anyone who recognizes palestine.
Israel should never give up control of Judea and Samaria.
We should not allow EU to send ukes US weapons,
rather for economic reasons let em fight and sell weapons to both sides.I still hope he can end this proxy war on russia.
and he’s still the best president in my lifetime(warts and all)


25 posted on 11/08/2025 8:43:41 AM PST by CarolinaReaganFan
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To: DallasBiff

Will end it here. It’s not about troops. It’s about money and focus, that should be on Texas.

Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar Announces $45 Million Purchase in Israel Bonds
https://comptroller.texas.gov/about/media-center/news/20231102-texas-comptroller-glenn-hegar-announces-45-million-purchase-in-israel-bonds-1698872583849


26 posted on 11/08/2025 8:44:00 AM PST by CondoleezzaProtege
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To: Kazan

Trump must not go to war in way in Venezuela, needs to stop obsessing over anything going on in the middle east and needs to pull us out of any involvement in the war in Ukraine.
.......

I believe the current National Emergency regarding Venezuela started under Obama.
Some would argue Ukraine probably has Obama fingerprints.

And the middle East?

That’s a whole of Swamp Bush-Clinton-Bush-Obama endless wars era.

I would suggest the Counter Narcoterrorist Operation that began on April 1 2020 was probably a plan to actually end National Emergencies in places like Venezuela.

I would suggest electing Trump will bring the end of Bush-Clinton-Bush-Obama endless war era problems, when it’s all said and done.

But maybe Kamala deserved your vote
/s


27 posted on 11/08/2025 8:44:30 AM PST by delchiante
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To: CarolinaReaganFan

Well, Trump has 9 months to get things moving on the economy or MAGA is toast.


28 posted on 11/08/2025 8:44:48 AM PST by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
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To: CondoleezzaProtege
Governor Abbott Travels To Israel, Reaffirms Unwavering Support

So you would be happier if Abbott gave "unwavering" support to Hamas? Get a grip, you and Tucker.

29 posted on 11/08/2025 8:45:48 AM PST by DallasBiff (Apology not accepted.la is not the sharpest knife in the drawer)
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To: Nextrush

It’s a long way from Diego Garcia which is too small to support much in the way of infrastructure.


30 posted on 11/08/2025 8:49:53 AM PST by Carry_Okie (The tree of liberty needs a rope.)
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To: DallasBiff

I said I’ll end it here but in addition to buying Israeli bonds, Texas oil companies and Islamic nations collab all the time. 🙄

“ Saudi Aramco to Spend $3.4B on Motiva Refinery in Texas”
https://www.ttnews.com/articles/saudi-aramco-motiva-texas

“ UAE’s Adnoc buys 35% stake in Exxon’s Texas hydrogen plant”
https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eenews/2024/09/05/uaes-adnoc-buys-35-stake-in-exxons-texas-hydrogen-plant-00177346

“ How Texas Dictates Middle East Relations”
https://katusaresearch.com/how-texas-dictates-middle-east-relations/


31 posted on 11/08/2025 8:53:23 AM PST by CondoleezzaProtege
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To: Carry_Okie

President Trump should be more open, honest and transparent about the military intentions of the US heck Pete Hegseth talking about moving to a ‘war footing’ this week at the “Department of War”.


32 posted on 11/08/2025 8:55:12 AM PST by Nextrush (FREEDOM IS EVERYBODY'S BUSINESS, REMEMBER REV; NIEMOLLER)
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To: x

Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac. It’s hard to resist when you have access to it.


33 posted on 11/08/2025 8:57:16 AM PST by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
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To: Starboard

“ Thank you for pointing this out. So much to do right here at home. Infrastructure modernization is right up near the top.”

I thought that was what “Build Back Better” was supposed to fix?


34 posted on 11/08/2025 8:59:58 AM PST by EQAndyBuzz ( Covfefe! )
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To: Nextrush

I looked over Diego Garcia. It’s not really an airbase. It’s an attended landing strip and refueling depot clearly exposed to weather.

It’s pretty decrepit. The roofs are old. The port facilities are minuscule. There’s minimal hangar space for aircraft maintenance.


35 posted on 11/08/2025 9:03:30 AM PST by Carry_Okie (The tree of liberty needs a rope.)
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To: FlipWilson
“He needs to laser on showing his trad deals are moving actual dirt to build actual manufacturing or whatever that will create jobs. He needs to laser on reducing costs. Home, home, home.”
_________________

I'll bet 90% of the posters here on FR aren't even aware that there was a neodymium magnet plant opened in Sumpter, SC in the past week in a joint venture w/the Germans. The Germans apprenticed our workers for several months and those workers have now returned to form the nucleus for the SC plant; lots of new jobs for U.S. workers and plans to expand that plant six-fold!

Those magnets are critical to space age technology and until now the CCP had a strangle hold on production. Trump has a lots of “balls in the air” he's “juggling.”

It would be very helpful if Trump voters had just a little more patience and were a little better informed. It would also be much more effective if our media would cover this type of news more effectively instead of, "Who's the latest ICE agent to get a sandwich thrown at him/her."

36 posted on 11/08/2025 9:04:00 AM PST by Ozymandias Ghost
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To: Kazan

They may lose but not will it be because of foreign policy. “It’s the economy stupid “. High interest rates. Inflation. High housing cost.


37 posted on 11/08/2025 9:04:50 AM PST by FreedomNotSafety
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To: Ozymandias Ghost

Trump’s team needs to do a better job of getting the narrative out there, because you know the media sure won’t do it for him.


38 posted on 11/08/2025 9:05:52 AM PST by dfwgator ("I am Charlie Kirk!")
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To: CondoleezzaProtege

That’s King Trump and he wants the new DC Commanders stadium named after him in Big Gold letters!


39 posted on 11/08/2025 9:05:55 AM PST by TornadoAlley3 ( I'm Proud To Be An Okie From Muskogee)
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To: EQAndyBuzz

“I thought that was what “Build Back Better” was supposed to fix?”

***********

BBB wasn’t supposed to fix anything. It was just another Democrat money distribution scheme.

I would like to see specific commitments to achieve results WRT our sorely needed infrastructure modernization. Maybe even appoint an Infrastructure Tzar to plan it all out. We’ve neglected so much here at home for so long. Tangible projects that benefit the entire country on every level. JMHO


40 posted on 11/08/2025 9:08:13 AM PST by Starboard
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