Trump & Putin: Relationship Breakdown?
## Teh Shifting Sands of Trump’s Foreign Policy: Self-Interest Above All Else
Donald Trump’s recent pronouncements regarding Russia – condemning Putin’s war in Ukraine and even suggesting the U.S. might defend NATO allies who don’t meet spending obligations – have left many scratching their heads.It’s a stark departure from the consistently admiring,even deferential,tone he’s taken toward the Russian leader for years. But to be surprised by this whiplash is to fundamentally misunderstand the core operating principle of Trump’s worldview: ideology takes a backseat to perceived self-interest.
### Trump’s “America First” – Defined on His Terms
The notion of “America First” isn’t a deeply held philosophical conviction for trump; it’s a branding exercise. As Trump explained to The Atlantic’s Michael Scherer, “Well, considering I’m the one that developed America First, and considering that the term wasn’t used until I came along, I think I’m the one that decides that.” He then demonstrated this principle wiht actions that frequently enough contradicted any conventional understanding of prioritizing American interests, like bombing Iran. This week’s jarring course correction on Russia has played out along similar lines. In Washington, ideology is frequently enough seen as the only thing that matters, but for Trump, it’s demonstrably *not* the most critically important thing.
### A Pattern of Pragmatic Abandonment: Lessons from Roy Cohn
So, is the love affair between Trump and Putin over for good? It’s a question worth asking, but perhaps the more insightful question is: does it even *matter* if it is? All week, I’ve been thinking about Trump and his mentor, Roy Cohn – the notorious figure of McCarthyism who taught the aspiring New York real-estate developer how to play hardball politics.
Their relationship was incredibly close. They spoke as often as five times a day, and Trump kept a picture of Cohn on his desk. Yet, when Cohn was diagnosed with AIDS in 1984, Trump reportedly “dropped him like a hot potato,” as Cohn’s former secretary