Wall Street Journal on Trump foreign policy: Less 'brave new world' than 'dangerous old one'

The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board went after President Trump on foreign policy on Sunday, saying it is "less brave new world than a reversion to a dangerous old one."

The board highlighted recent actions such as Trump trying to "wash his hands" of Ukraine and threatening allies in Europe and North America with even higher tariffs than adversaries like China.

“All of this would amount to an epochal return to the world of great power competition and balance of power that prevailed before World War II. It’s less a brave new world than a reversion to a dangerous old one,” the board wrote.

The board said that the president “says he is making America great again, not retreating from the defense of freedom.”

“He says he wants ‘peace,’ but is it peace with honor, or the peace of the grave for Ukraine and accommodation to Chinese domination in the Pacific? And why isn’t he increasing defense spending?” it added.

Last Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Vice President Vance and Trump had a heated Oval Office meeting that featured shouting, finger-pointing and the president and the Ukrainian leader arguing over U.S. support for Ukraine.

Following the meeting, Trump said on his Truth Social platform that the Ukrainian president “is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations.”

“I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace,” Trump added.

The meeting resulted in blowback from Democrats and some Republicans, with Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) calling it “an utter embarrassment for America.”

“A bad day for America’s foreign policy. Ukraine wants independence, free markets and rule of law. It wants to be part of the West. Russia hates us and our Western values. We should be clear that we stand for freedom,” Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) told The Hill in a text message last week, commenting on the meeting.

The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment on The Wall Street Journal's editorial.

Topics

Trump knocks Wall Street Journal over editorials: 'Some real CLINKERS'

President Trump on Wednesday complained that The Wall Street Journal is not supportive enough of his agenda, knocking a recent editorial the Rupert Murdoch-owned newspaper published on his trade ...
The Hill - 5d
In foreign policy, Trump needs to be more like Reagan, less like Biden

The Biden administration's reluctance to take action against Russia in Ukraine has been criticized, while Trump's new Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has made similar rookie mistakes, potentially ...
The Hill - Feb. 22
Wall Street Is Getting Antsy With Trump

The contrasting reactions between the overflow and V.I.P. areas at a Trump event encapsulated the finance world’s worries about the new administration’s first month.
The New York Times - Feb. 24
Trump’s Russia policy is a dangerous anachronism

This anachronism imposes on the contemporary world a scheme of the two spheres of control, one of which does not actually exist.
The Hill - Feb. 24
The Dark Heart of Trump’s Foreign Policy

The journalist Fareed Zakaria discusses the worldview emerging from Trump’s foreign policy decisions regarding Ukraine, Gaza, China and beyond.
The New York Times - 2d
Wall Street and Silicon Valley Are Betting Big on Trump’s America

Citadel, JPMorgan and Apple are leaning into the president’s agenda.
Inc. - 6d
Wall Street slumps after Trump says tariffs will begin on March 4

Investors wary of President Trump's plan to add tariffs of 25% on imports from Mexico and Canada, as well as a negative GDP forecast.
CBS News - 1h
The queen of Wall Street

Plus, a golden age of US-Saudi co-operation, Europe’s ‘failed’ securitisation market, and the Louvre Abu Dhabi
Financial Times - Feb. 24
‘Free world needs a new leader’, says EU foreign chief after Trump Zelenskyy row

The EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, said ‘the free world needs a new leader’ and that it was up to Europeans to take this challenge. Live reaction to Zelenskyy’s clash with Trump and ...
The Guardian - 2d