Is a Manchurian Candidate Guiding our Defense?

A Manchurian Candidate, as initially defined in Richard Condon’s 1959 novel and the 1966 movie, is a nation’s leader controlled by that country’s enemy. These works of fiction played on the fear of a Communist takeover of America by Russia or China, a conspiracy worthy of being promoted by QAnon.

However, over time, the term has evolved to describe a leader who unwittingly or carelessly serves the interests of a foreign power in ways that harm his country’s interests. Today, critics view President Donald Trump’s policies in that light.

In fairness, every past president has made policy choices that, in hindsight, did not benefit America and may have even harmed it. Nevertheless, there is a distinction between making poor judgments and adopting positions that align with a central orientation that undermines our strength.

If a foreign power sought to undermine another country’s ability to counter its global influence, it would aim to reduce that country’s capacity to protect its interests beyond its borders. Recently, Foreign Affairs published two articles examining how President Donald Trump’s foreign policies impede our defense by embracing isolationist and anti-globalist beliefs, to the benefit of China and Russia’s expansionist agendas.