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Washington's Warning: Nationalism Shapes Modern U.S. Foreign Policy

7/14/2025

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Summary

Story summary

George Washington warned against permanent alliances, promoting temporary ones only when essential, a principle that influenced U.S. foreign policy for decades. Critics of Trump's administration as "isolationist" miss its emphasis on nationalism and realism, which prioritized American interests, especially in Asia, while encouraging Europe to tackle its own issues.

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Story summary

George Washington warned against permanent alliances, promoting temporary ones only when essential, a principle that influenced U.S. foreign policy for decades. Critics of Trump's administration as "isolationist" miss its emphasis on nationalism and realism, which prioritized American interests, especially in Asia, while encouraging Europe to tackle its own issues.