Lowy Institute Decoding ‘America First’: The origins of Trump’s foreign policy
Apr 7, 2026
Stephen Biegun, former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State and chief North Korea negotiator with decades in government and the private sector, reflects on Trump’s long-running worldview from the 1980s. He discusses historical precedents like Greenland, shifting Republican coalitions, uses of American power, risks around Iran and the Strait of Hormuz, and global nuclear proliferation pressures.
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Greenland Has Long Been On America's Shopping List
- The U.S. has attempted to buy Greenland multiple times dating back to 1867, showing recurring strategic interest.
- Biegun recounts William Seward's 1867 offer to buy Greenland after purchasing Alaska and the later Danish refusals.
Modern Parties Are Shifting Coalitions
- Republican and Democratic parties are coalitions with shifting factions; Trump's MAGA bloc is plural but not sole.
- Biegun explains Trump's coalition tapped libertarians, social conservatives and hawks to win broad support.
America First Is Not Isolationism
- Trump is not isolationist; he uses American power forward and sometimes eagerly with less reserve than predecessors.
- Biegun contrasts Trump's willingness to act in the Iran conflict with previous caution due to unintended consequences or lack of allied support.