Former President Donald Trump continues to cast a long shadow over international politics, particularly regarding his interactions with global leaders and organizations such as the G7. His unorthodox governing ethos is a lightning rod for questions regarding the future of multilateral diplomacy in general. He has demonstrated an aversion to democratic norms and an affinity for authoritarian regimes.
Trump’s obvious jealousy of other world leaders, including Xi and Putin, has played out in a number of ways. In June of 2018, he took a brave stand. Rather than attending the planned G7 summit, he laid the groundwork for a historic handshake with North Korea’s supreme leader, Kim Jong-un. This choice highlights his agenda priorities. It serves to emphasize his long-standing appetite for courting figures who undermine liberal democratic norms.
Previously, Trump has used other international clashes as excuses for his bad actions, including the worsening hostilities between Israel and Iran. He is convinced that these geopolitical dynamics should drive U.S. foreign policy, frequently to the detriment of settled diplomatic protocols. This approach has led to a perception that Trump views international gatherings like the G7 as less important than direct negotiations with strongmen.
In Britain, Trump’s popularity remains low. Even among supporters of Reform UK, a staunchly right-wing political party—the Tories’ traditional opposition. This unpopularity is largely because of a general distrust of Trump’s executive style of governing. He almost has to squirm sitting next to the German chancellor and the Canadian prime minister at round-table discussions. He considers it “humiliating” for the U.S. commander-in-chief.
Trump’s rejection of the G7 as a forum for coordination in foreign and trade policy terms is unambiguous. He has proclaimed there cannot be a G7 if it doesn’t include Russia. Instead, he favors a G1 model where the United States is exalted above all other countries and their vassals. This view has deeply shaped his style of engagement with world leaders, more importantly, his decision-making approach, as well.
His personal diplomacy with the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, highlights this tension perfectly. Trump said that expelling Vladimir Putin from the G7 was a “big mistake.” Second, he highlighted his goal of engaging with leaders who would not adhere to democratic norms. Comments like these underscore Trump’s proclivity to coddle dictators but squirm in the presence of democratic friends.
The former president’s attitude prevails on trade relations, too. He took the unconventional step of signing an executive order. This order provided for a lighter patter of punitive tariffs on Britain, less severe than those levied on the rest of the world. This move represents the latest manifestation of his transactional approach to international relations, which forms the bedrock of his larger doctrine of “America First.”
Critics have raised alarms over Trump’s governing ethos, suggesting that it normalizes an agenda that could erode democratic foundations in favor of authoritarian tendencies. Observers note that this dynamic risks hollowing out U.S. democracy and replacing it with a distorted version of freedom characterized by tyranny.
Trump’s vindictive nature and thin-skinned responses to critique makes it even harder for him to maintain his relationships with foreign leaders. Second, he seems compelled to react defensively to every affront, real or imagined, which knocks important allies and partners off balance.
Even in the face of speculation that Trump will be more statesmanlike, many diplomats we’ve talked to are not buying it. The notion of a “Love Actually moment”—a reference to the film where a character undergoes significant personal growth—has been used derisively in diplomatic circles to describe the unlikelihood that Trump will alter his fundamental approach to governance and diplomacy.
No, the real story is that what Trump is doing acts on a long standing belief system that cares more about power falls than international cooperation. He does not oppose diplomatic relations, but he thinks they should reflect his dominance. This perspective goes head on against away at the fundamental tenets of the international order.
As international leaders grapple with Trump’s legacy and ongoing influence, they must navigate the complexities of a world where traditional alliances are tested by an unpredictable former leader whose governing style diverges sharply from diplomatic norms.