Analysis & Opinions - The New York Times
No, President Trump: You've Weakened America's Soft Power
Armed forces aren't the only power America projects. Its values stir admiration around the globe. But they're taking a beating in the White House.
Note
Professor Nye coined the term "soft power" in 1989.
President Trump claims he "made America great again." The facts show just the opposite. The United States has lost credibility since 2017. The president's looseness with the truth has debased the currency of trust that is needed in a crisis, and his continual disdain for our allies means we have fewer friends.
There is clear evidence that Mr. Trump's presidency has eroded America's soft power — the power to attract rather than command. According to a new Pew poll, only 29 percent of people surveyed in 33 countries trust Trump. He ranks as low as President Xi Jinping of China. A year ago, Gallup polled 134 countries and similarly found that only 30 percent of the people held a favorable view of the United States under Mr. Trump's leadership. That was a drop of almost 20 points since Barack Obama's presidency. And an annual British index, the Soft Power 30, showed America slipping from first place in 2016 to fifth place in 2019....
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For Academic Citation:
Nye, Joseph S Jr.“No, President Trump: You've Weakened America's Soft Power.” The New York Times, February 25, 2020.
The Author
Joseph S. Nye
- Harvard University Distinguished Service Professor
- Member of the Board, Belfer Center
- Faculty Affiliate, Future of Diplomacy Project
Expertise:
- Weak/Failed states
- Coronavirus
- Intelligence in policymaking
- Military strategy
- International Relations
- Soft power
- U.S. foreign policy
- U.S. primacy
- History
- International development
- International Security & Defense
- Weapons of Mass Destruction
- Terrorism & Counterterrorism
- Military policy
- Afghanistan war
- China & security
- Democracy
- Intelligence
- Nuclear Issues
- Dirty bombs
- Nuclear proliferation
- Nuclear security
- Nuclear terrorism
- Nuclear weapons
- U.S. nuclear issues
- Cyber Security
- Recommended
- In the Spotlight
- Most Viewed
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Note
Professor Nye coined the term "soft power" in 1989.
President Trump claims he "made America great again." The facts show just the opposite. The United States has lost credibility since 2017. The president's looseness with the truth has debased the currency of trust that is needed in a crisis, and his continual disdain for our allies means we have fewer friends.
There is clear evidence that Mr. Trump's presidency has eroded America's soft power — the power to attract rather than command. According to a new Pew poll, only 29 percent of people surveyed in 33 countries trust Trump. He ranks as low as President Xi Jinping of China. A year ago, Gallup polled 134 countries and similarly found that only 30 percent of the people held a favorable view of the United States under Mr. Trump's leadership. That was a drop of almost 20 points since Barack Obama's presidency. And an annual British index, the Soft Power 30, showed America slipping from first place in 2016 to fifth place in 2019....
Want to Read More?
The full text of this publication is available via New York Times.The Author
Joseph S. Nye
- Harvard University Distinguished Service Professor
- Member of the Board, Belfer Center
- Faculty Affiliate, Future of Diplomacy Project
- Weak/Failed states
- Coronavirus
- Intelligence in policymaking
- Military strategy
- International Relations
- Soft power
- U.S. foreign policy
- U.S. primacy
- History
- International development
- International Security & Defense
- Weapons of Mass Destruction
- Terrorism & Counterterrorism
- Military policy
- Afghanistan war
- China & security
- Democracy
- Intelligence
- Nuclear Issues
- Dirty bombs
- Nuclear proliferation
- Nuclear security
- Nuclear terrorism
- Nuclear weapons
- U.S. nuclear issues
- Cyber Security
- Recommended
- In the Spotlight
- Most Viewed
Recommended
Analysis & Opinions - Foreign Policy
Trump Is Failing His Dictatorship Test
Analysis & Opinions - Project Syndicate
Trump’s Transactional Myopia
Analysis & Opinions - The Boston Globe
The Costs of Trump's Disdain for International Morality
In the Spotlight
Most Viewed
Policy Brief - Quarterly Journal: International Security
The Future of U.S. Nuclear Policy: The Case for No First Use
Discussion Paper - Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School
Why the United States Should Spread Democracy
