Trump's Populist Foreign Policy Mirrors Global Counterparts

Analysis finds seven key pillars of populist foreign policy shared by Trump and leaders like Erdogan, Modi, and Orban.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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A new analysis argues that the best way to understand Donald Trump's foreign policy is to view it through the lens of populism, rather than as a unique strategic approach. The article identifies seven key pillars of populist foreign policy that Trump shares with other global populist leaders, including personalization of power, hyper-mediatization, scapegoating of "corrupt elites", invoking a grand nationalist history, revisionism of the international order, extortion for domestic political gains, and the pursuit of short-term "wins" for the "true people" over long-term strategic interests.

Why it matters

This analysis suggests that Trump's foreign policy is driven more by his populist style of governance than by a coherent strategic vision for America's role in the world. It highlights how populism can shape foreign policy in unpredictable and destabilizing ways, as leaders prioritize political theater and personal aggrandizement over traditional diplomacy and statecraft. Understanding these populist dynamics is crucial for anticipating and mitigating the global impacts of Trump's approach to international relations.

The details

The article outlines seven key pillars of populist foreign policy that Trump shares with other global populist leaders like Erdogan, Modi, and Orban: 1) Personalization of power by hollowing out institutions and replacing skilled personnel with political appointees; 2) Hyper-mediatization, using media spectacles to generate emotional connections with the public; 3) Scapegoating "corrupt elites" at home and abroad; 4) Invoking a grand nationalist history to justify revisionism; 5) Actively seeking to revise the international order to elevate their own status; 6) Extorting concessions from other countries through threats and disruption; and 7) Prioritizing short-term "wins" for their base over long-term strategic interests.

  • One term, one year, and one month into Donald Trump's presidency
  • In February 2025, U.S. officials berated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office

The players

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States who employed a populist style of governance that shaped his foreign policy in ways similar to other global populist leaders.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan

The president of Turkey, cited as an example of a populist leader whose foreign policy approach shares key similarities with Trump's.

Narendra Modi

The prime minister of India, cited as an example of a populist leader whose foreign policy approach shares key similarities with Trump's.

Viktor Orban

The prime minister of Hungary, cited as an example of a populist leader whose foreign policy approach shares key similarities with Trump's.

Volodymyr Zelensky

The president of Ukraine, who was berated by U.S. officials in the Oval Office in February 2025 in an incident that exemplified Trump's populist foreign policy approach.

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The takeaway

Trump's populist foreign policy approach, characterized by personalization of power, media spectacles, scapegoating of elites, revisionism of the international order, and the pursuit of short-term "wins" over long-term strategic interests, mirrors that of other global populist leaders. This suggests his actions on the world stage are driven more by his populist style of governance than by a coherent strategic vision, with potentially destabilizing implications for the international system.