Wall Street Journal On Trump Foreign Policy: Less 'brave New World' Than 'dangerous Old One'

The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board went after President Trump on foreign policy on Sunday, saying it is "less brave new world than a reversion to a dangerous old one."

The board highlighted recent actions such as Trump trying to "wash his hands" of Ukraine and threatening allies in Europe and North America with even higher tariffs than adversaries like China. 

“All of this would amount to an epochal return to the world of great power competition and balance of power that prevailed before World War II. It’s less a brave new world than a reversion to a dangerous old one,” the board wrote.

The board said that the president “says he is making America great again, not retreating from the defense of freedom.”

“He says he wants ‘peace,’ but is it peace with honor, or the peace of the grave for Ukraine and accommodation to Chinese domination in the Pacific? And why isn’t he increasing defense spending?” it added.

Last Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Vice President Vance and Trump had a heated Oval Office meeting that featured shouting, finger-pointing and the president and the Ukrainian leader arguing over U.S. support for Ukraine.

Following the meeting, Trump said on his Truth Social platform that the Ukrainian president “is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations.”

“I don’t want advantage, I want PEACE. He disrespected the United States of America in its cherished Oval Office. He can come back when he is ready for Peace,” Trump added.

The meeting resulted in blowback from Democrats and some Republicans, with Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) calling it “an utter embarrassment for America.”

“A bad day for America’s foreign policy. Ukraine wants independence, free markets and rule of law. It wants to be part of the West. Russia hates us and our Western values. We should be clear that we stand for freedom,” Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) told The Hill in a text message last week, commenting on the meeting.

The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment on The Wall Street Journal's editorial.