Analysis & Opinions - The Washington Post

Trump Has Learned a Lot. But He's Neglecting a Huge Part of American Leadership.

| Apr. 25, 2017

Does the President Understand Soft Power?

The president got off to a rough start in his first 100 days, but he learned from his first crisis and might have had a successful foreign policy if he had lasted four years. That, of course, was John F. Kennedy with the Bay of Pigs, who later managed to launch arms-control negotiations with the Soviets. Presidents can learn on the job.

The most notable takeaway from President Trump's first 100 days of foreign policy is how much he learned. During the 2016 campaign, he stunned allies by questioning America's alliance structure, and days before taking office, he dismissed NATO as "obsolete." Yet 82 days into his presidency, he told NATO's secretary general that "NATO is no longer obsolete."...

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For more information on this publication: Belfer Communications Office
For Academic Citation: Nye, Joseph S. Jr.“Trump Has Learned a Lot. But He's Neglecting a Huge Part of American Leadership..” The Washington Post, April 25, 2017.

The Author

Joseph S. Nye, Jr.

Joseph S. Nye

  • Harvard University Distinguished Service Professor
  • Member of the Board, Belfer Center
  • Faculty Affiliate, Future of Diplomacy Project
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