Notes

‘Kinetic diplomacy.’ During last fall’s election campaign, U.S. President Donald Trump called himself the “candidate of peace”—saying “proudest legacy” would be his role as a “peacemaker.” With the slogan “peace through strength,” Trump promised to extricate the United States from as many foreign entanglements as possible, the better to make America itself great again. He would put U.S. foreign policy on a new footing.

Now, however: He’s bombed Yemen. He says he will take Greenland—without military force, if possible; with it, if necessary. He is trying to negotiate a deal with Iran over its nuclear program, but if they don’t cooperate, there “will be bombing the likes of which they have never seen before.” Meanwhile, Trump has spoken publicly of occupying the Gaza Strip by force, even as he’s threatened via social media to level what remains of it: “People of Gaza: A beautiful Future awaits, but not if you hold Hostages. If you do, you are DEAD!”

Those supporting the president here might say this is simply a “peace through strength” tactic: Negotiate on my terms or else. But in leaked chat messages, Vice President J.D. Vance worried that Trump hadn’t been fully informed of how bombing Yemen would contradict the administration’s stated commitment to retreat from Europe: “I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now.”

What’s going on?

—Gustav Jönsson