Donald Trump, sworn in on Monday as the 47th president of the United States, avoided addressing several key foreign policy issues that had dominated his campaign rhetoric, including Afghanistan, Ukraine, and Canada. Instead, Trump’s inauguration speech focused heavily on internal policies and a vision for an “America First” agenda.
Despite emphasizing U.S. aid to Afghanistan and military equipment withdrawal during his campaign, Trump made no mention of Afghanistan during his address. In prior remarks, he had pledged to cut “billions of dollars” in aid to the country and criticized former President Joe Biden’s handling of the U.S. withdrawal, calling it a failure of leadership.
Trump also refrained from discussing the war in Ukraine, a subject that had frequently been a talking point on the campaign trail. Nor did he mention relations with Canada, despite his campaign’s criticism of trade policies with America’s northern neighbor.
In his speech, Trump painted a picture of national renewal, promising a “golden age” for the United States. “From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land,” he declared. “From this moment on, it’s going to be America First.”
The president vowed to prioritize domestic interests, signaling a shift in the nation’s global posture. “We will no longer allow ourselves to be taken advantage of,” he said, referring to international relationships and trade.
Trump also promised to send troops to secure the southern border, hinting at plans to declare a national emergency to address immigration concerns.
The omission of global issues, particularly Afghanistan, stood in stark contrast to Trump’s campaign messaging. His sharp critique of Biden’s withdrawal from Afghanistan had been a rallying point for his supporters, along with vows to repatriate U.S. military equipment left under Taliban control.
By steering away from these topics, Trump’s speech emphasized domestic policies over foreign affairs, underscoring his administration’s focus on reshaping the nation’s internal priorities while leaving questions about America’s role on the global stage unanswered.
