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This project was made possible in part by a grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

President-Elect Trump and U.S. Foreign Policy

A second Trump administration will face serious foreign policy challenges. CFR offers a full suite of resources to keep track of developments on critical issues and the U.S. role in the world.

President-Elect Donald Trump holds hands with his wife, Melania, at a rally in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Leading Stories

The 2024 Election and Foreign Policy

Trump’s Foreign Policy Views

View our guide to President-Elect Donald Trump’s positions on major global issues, including climate change, immigration, and trade.
U.S. President Donald Trump wears a red "Make America Great Again" hat.
  • U.S. Governance and the Presidential Transition

    Experts discuss the importance of a peaceful transfer of power, potential challenges facing the incoming administration, and strategies to prevent leadership gaps in essential roles.

    U.S. President Joe Biden shakes hands with President-elect Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House.
  • CFR-GVSU Election Forum

    Experts discuss international trade and national security, the U.S.-China relationship, and U.S. engagement in global conflicts, at Grand Valley State University in Michigan.

    Panelists sitting at the U.S. Foreign Policy Public Forum at Grand Valley State University.
  • CFR-F&M Election Forum

    Experts discuss trade and immigration, the Russia-Ukraine war, U.S.-China relations, and the Middle East, at Franklin & Marshall College in Pennsylvania.

    Panelists speak at Franklin & Marshall College in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

The Role of Tariffs

What Are Tariffs?

Recent U.S. presidents have turned to tariffs to support local industries amid economic confrontation with China. Here’s how these taxes work and how they’ve been used historically.
An employee works at a steel factory in China’s Shandong Province, in January 2024.

The Russia-Ukraine War

How Much U.S. Aid Is Going to Ukraine?

Nine charts illustrate the extraordinary level of support the United States has provided Ukraine in its war against Russian invaders.
Ukrainian national flags flutter in front of a heavily damaged apartment building in the frontline town of Orikhiv, Ukraine.

Conflict in the Middle East

What’s Next for Syria After Assad

Experts discuss the implications of what’s happening in the Middle East, touching on governance challenges in Syria, regional dynamics, and the role of the international community.
Women gesture as they celebrate after President Bashar al-Assad's authoritarian rule has ended. Event

Immigration

How Does Immigration Affect the U.S. Economy?

Presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump differ sharply on the benefits of immigration for the U.S. economy. What role do immigrants play?
A group of immigrants attends a protest against an immigration bill in Immokalee, Florida, in 2023.

China

Trump’s China Challenge

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the incoming Trump administration’s approach, the central challenge it faces is clear: positioning the United States to outcompete China as a critical window in the competition begins to close.
U.S. President Donald Trump takes part in a welcoming ceremony with China's President Xi Jinping in Beijing, China.

Climate Change

The Climate Challenge

CFR experts discuss what the United States has done and should do to confront a changing climate.
A firefighter tries to extinguish a wildfire burning next to the village of Kallithea, near Corinth, Greece. Podcast
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