In a wide-ranging conversation on Wednesday’s WarRoom, Peter Navarro and Ric Grenell talked about the profound impact of the Trump America First Doctrine, highlighting how Donald Trump has emerged as a global leader of a populist movement that prioritizes humanitarian rights and opposes unnecessary, expensive military conflicts.
Grenell asserts, “When America puts itself first, the entire world benefits,” encapsulating the idea that a strong, self-assured America can lead by example rather than by force.
Grenell emphasizes that this doctrine, often misunderstood or dismissed by the media, is rooted in a clear-eyed realism that seeks to avoid the costly entanglements that have plagued American foreign policy for decades. According to Grenell, Trump’s approach to global leadership contrasts sharply with the Democratic Party’s tendency to engage in hasty military interventions that drain American resources and destabilize regions.
At the core of Trump’s populist movement is a deep skepticism of the so-called "endless wars” that have almost bankrupted and embroiled the United States in conflicts around the world, that do not benefit the nation.
This movement, which has galvanized millions of voters, is driven by a belief that American foreign policy should serve the interests of the American people first and foremost rather than the geopolitical ambitions of a global elite.
Under Trump, the Republican Party has increasingly positioned itself as the party of peace, in stark contrast to the Democratic Party, which Grenell and Navarro argue has been too quick to resort to military action. Grenell cites the Biden administration’s handling of the Ukraine conflict as a prime example of the Democrats’ reckless approach.
He argues that Biden’s decision to lift sanctions on Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline signaled weakness to Vladimir Putin, emboldening the Russian leader to invade Ukraine. Grenell suggests that this could have been avoided if Biden had maintained Trump’s tough stance, which included economic sanctions and diplomatic pressure rather than military engagement.
Trump’s approach to foreign policy is framed not just as anti-war but as deeply humanitarian. By avoiding unnecessary conflicts, Trump’s administration sought to protect American lives and prevent the widespread suffering that often accompanies war.
Grenell points out that Trump’s policies were designed to establish a "rules-based system that is not based on selfish exploits,” ensuring that America’s actions on the global stage were not about conquest but about maintaining peace and stability. This perspective resonated with Trump’s base, who saw endless wars as a betrayal of American values and a waste of precious resources that could be better spent at home.
The conversation also touches on Trump’s handling of the Afghanistan withdrawal, with Grenell contrasting Trump’s methodical approach with Biden’s disastrous exit. According to Grenell, Trump was committed to ending the war in Afghanistan but insisted on doing so in a way that would protect American interests and avoid a power vacuum that could lead to chaos.
He recalls that Trump was adamant about removing military equipment or, if necessary, destroying it to prevent it from falling into the hands of the Taliban. Biden, on the other hand, ignored the advice of military leaders and prioritized a politically motivated deadline over strategic considerations, leading to a hasty and chaotic withdrawal that left behind valuable assets and contributed to the rapid collapse of the Afghan government.
Grenell’s critique of the Biden administration extends beyond Afghanistan and Ukraine to include the broader implications of Democratic foreign policy. He argues that under Biden and Harris, the U.S. has been drawn into unnecessary conflicts that serve no clear national interest while ignoring the humanitarian crises that Trump sought to address. This, according to Grenell, highlights a fundamental difference between the two parties: Republicans, under Trump’s leadership, have become the party of peace and humanitarian rights, while Democrats have increasingly become the party of war, willing to expend American lives and resources on conflicts that do not serve the American people.
The conversation between Navarro and Grenell shows Trump’s role as a global leader of a populist, anti-war movement that prioritizes humanitarian rights and American interests. Grenell’s insights reveal the stark differences between the Republican and Democratic approaches to foreign policy, with Trump’s vision of America First starkly contrasting the Democrats’ propensity for hasty military interventions.
A little BIO:
Ric Grenell is an American diplomat, political advisor, and media commentator known for his roles within the Trump administration. He served as the U.S. Ambassador to Germany from 2018 to 2020 and was also the Acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI) in 2020. Grenell was the first openly gay person to serve at a cabinet-level position in the U.S. government.
During his tenure as ambassador, Grenell strongly advocated for Trump’s “America First” foreign policy and was instrumental in various diplomatic efforts, particularly in Europe. As Acting DNI, he focused on declassifying documents related to the Russia investigation and other national security issues, actions that were praised by Trump supporters but criticized by others as politically motivated.
Grenell is a staunch supporter of Trump’s policies and has been an influential figure within the Republican Party, often involved in media and political strategy. He is known for his strong views on foreign policy and national security and his advocacy for LGBTQ rights within the conservative movement.
For more context, watch the full segment with Ric Grenell:
