There are two unfolding foreign policy crises that should deeply trouble every U.S. citizen, not only for their moral implications but for their severe impacts on national security, economic stability, and America’s global standing.
An American Killed by Settlers in the West Bank
A U.S. citizen was recently beaten to death in the West Bank by illegal Israeli settlers who, along with the Israeli military, blocked medical assistance for over three hours, causing the victim to die a slow, agonizing death. Disturbingly, no representative from the U.S. government has contacted the victim’s family, and Ambassador to Israel Huckabee merely suggested that the Israeli government “investigate themselves.” Predictably, there has been no meaningful investigation or accountability, reflecting a complete abdication of America’s responsibility to protect its citizens abroad.
This incident exposes the moral bankruptcy and geopolitical weakness of current U.S. policy in the region, where human rights abuses are ignored, and American lives are devalued to maintain political alliances. It signals to the world that the U.S. will not defend its own citizens if doing so might upset an ally, further eroding U.S. credibility and inviting more violence against Americans overseas.
Trump’s Russia Tariff Ultimatum Backfires
Meanwhile, Trump’s foreign policy blunder with Russia is setting up a catastrophic economic and geopolitical crisis. Trump has imposed a 50-day ultimatum demanding that Russia agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine. In response, Putin openly mocked Trump, calling him “dramatic” and declaring he would ignore the demand.
This has placed Trump in a devastatingly weak position, as he has threatened to impose a new 100% “secondary tariff” on any country conducting business with Russia. This includes India, China, and EU member states currently purchasing discounted Russian oil and gas under sanctions exemptions. If enforced, these tariffs would likely trigger retaliatory measures, spike global energy prices, and grind the U.S. economy to a halt, potentially triggering a deep recession or depression.
Far from isolating Russia, this policy would fracture global alliances, push India and Europe closer to China, and punish American consumers with skyrocketing energy and goods prices. It would also encourage de-dollarization in global trade as nations seek to avoid U.S. sanctions and tariffs, accelerating the decline of the dollar as the world’s reserve currency and further eroding U.S. economic power.
A Pattern of Self-Destructive Isolation
Both of these incidents reveal a dangerous pattern: the reckless abandonment of American citizens and values abroad while implementing self-destructive policies that isolate the U.S., destabilize the global economy, and erode America’s standing in the world.
The administration’s approach to foreign policy is neither strategic nor principled—it is reactive, driven by domestic political calculations rather than a coherent vision for peace, stability, and prosperity. Americans should demand accountability and a complete rethinking of these destructive foreign policies before they inflict further irreparable damage on the country and the world.