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RIP Liberal International Order: 1945–2025
“America First” puts America last
I try to avoid hyperbole, but the berating of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in the Oval Office seems to signal the end of the liberal international order that America and its allies created after WWII.
Existing international organizations, alliances, and agreements will not crumble solely because President Trump and Vice-President J.D. Vance bullied Zelenskyy in front of the world, criticizing his supposed lack of gratitude for America’s support. But taken together, the bullying itself and the cheerleading of Congressional Republicans reveal a disturbing version of “America First” foreign policy — a version that leaves Europe to fend for itself, emboldens Russia and China, and ultimately weakens America.
Luckily, we live in a Democracy (for now) that elects new members of Congress every two years and a new President every four. Voters need to understand how the MAGA version of “America First” puts America last, so that they can elect different leaders in 2026 and 2028.
Diminishing NATO
America and Western Europe established the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 1949 to deter Soviet aggression. NATO guarantees that America will defend a small country like Lithuania from a Russian invasion.
