It’s Always Been ‘America First’
While the phrase “America First” has been a recent rallying cry in modern politics and framed as a new approach to U.S. policy, the reality is that this is how we’ve always operated as a country—both domestically and internationally. You can change the rhetoric, but you can’t change the underlying truth: the United States engages with the world in a way that ultimately serve its national interests. It always has and probably always will.
This is how all nations operate - even efforts in diplomacy and international cooperation (say, developing a vaccine or the establishment of the United Nations) is done so with their own goals in mind. So the key challenge is not whether America First is the right approach—it always has been—but rather how it ultimately impacts policymaking. Are we pursuing policies that deliver only short-term wins, or are we thinking strategically about long-term prosperity and stability? Look at how we’ve approached this in the past:
1. The Monroe Doctrine (1823): Securing Regional Dominance
The Monroe Doctrine was an early declaration of American self-interest, warning European powers to stay out of the Western Hemisphere. While it was framed as protecting Latin America from colonization, it was also a strategy to ensure that the U.S. remained the dominant power in its own backyard, preventing foreign interference in a region critical to its own economic and security interests.
2. The Marshall Plan (1948-1952): Investing in Long-Term Influence
After World War II, the U.S. provided billions in aid to rebuild Europe through the Marshall Plan. While this was presented as a humanitarian effort, it was also a strategic move to counter Soviet influence, stabilize key markets for American goods, and cement U.S. leadership in the global economy. This is a prime example of how international engagement, when done wisely, serves long-term national interests. By injecting over $13 billion (about $150 billion in today’s dollars) into rebuilding European economies, the Marshall Plan revitalized purchasing power, ensuring that American industries had stable export markets and significantly increased U.S. exports in manufacturing and agriculture - but a much larger impact was standardizing economic systems to favor U.S. trade and reinforced the U.S. dollar as the dominant global currency.
3. Oil, Security, and Geopolitical Strategy
U.S. involvement in the Middle East (and all areas of conflict where the country has served as “the world’s police”—whether through military action, alliances, or economic deals—has long been driven by energy security and strategic dominance. The 2003 Iraq War, relations with Saudi Arabia, and other military operations in the region reflect a commitment to maintaining influence in throughout the world. Additionally, the U.S. supported China’s entry into the World Trade Organization in 2001 - with the expectation that opening China’s economy would ultimately benefit U.S. businesses and integrate China into a global economic system shaped largely by American rules. It wasn’t just to “help” China, but mostly to allow America to help itself to a large, low-cost workforce, which led companies like Apple and Nike to record profit margins, and to give U.S. businesses access to China’s 1.4 billion consumers.
4. COVID-19 and Vaccine Nationalism: Prioritizing Domestic Needs
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. focused on vaccinating its own population before extending aid globally. This America First approach was not unique to the U.S.; many nations did the same. However, it highlights how even in times of crisis, national self-interest takes precedence before global humanitarian efforts, and how that America First mindset led to vaccine hoarding, delaying global distribution, and blocking the export of medical supplies at the expense of others’ lives/
The Danger of Short-Term Thinking
While America First has always been a defining feature of U.S. policy, history teaches us that short-term gains must be balanced with long-term strategy. When leaders focus solely on immediate victories—whether in trade, diplomacy, or military action—they risk undermining future prosperity and stability.
This is not too different from how businesses operate. Companies that chase short-term profits to please shareholders often neglect long-term sustainability, advancements in products and services, and trust. Ultimately, those who are served suffer the most. Similarly, if the U.S. only prioritizes short-term political and/or economic wins, it will weaken its long-term position as a global leader - and the citizens will bear the brunt of that pain.
By learning from history and making thoughtful choices, we can build a future where our results are not just about the present, but about securing a stronger, more resilient world that lives up to our own proclaimed values of liberty and justice for all.
