Trump’s Second-Term Diplomacy: Theatrical Spectacle and Major Foreign Policy Shifts in 2025

Donald Trump’s return to the presidency following his 2024 victory over Kamala Harris ushered in an era of unconventional international relations. Throughout 2025, the Oval Office transformed into a stage for high-stakes drama, hosting over 40 foreign leaders in sessions that were frequently open to the press. This departure from traditional, quiet diplomacy blended aggressive confrontation with strategic flattery, aimed at both a domestic base and a global audience. Professor Liesel Hintz from the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies observed that Trump operated as a populist leader utilizing the politics of spectacle, effectively playing the roles of both a hardline negotiator and a television producer.

A defining moment of this theatrical diplomacy occurred on February 28, 2025. During a televised meeting, President Trump and Vice President JD Vance openly criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, demanding an immediate ceasefire with the Russian Federation. This public pressure led to a temporary freeze on American military aid and intelligence sharing. However, the diplomatic tension eventually shifted toward a resolution in December 2025, when Zelenskyy traveled to Palm Beach, Florida, for a series of peace negotiations.

Adhering strictly to his America First doctrine, Trump moved quickly in January 2025 to suspend the United States' general refugee resettlement program. A notable exception was carved out for white Afrikaners from South Africa, whom the administration prioritized for admission. This move was made despite the South African government’s official denials regarding the systematic persecution of this group, highlighting the administration's willingness to bypass conventional state narratives to satisfy specific political objectives.

In the Middle East, the administration pivoted back toward strong alliances with authoritarian figures. Trump notably reaffirmed his public support for Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, moving past the 2018 killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. This stance stood in sharp contrast to the previous administration under Joseph R. Biden Jr., who had once pledged to treat the kingdom as a pariah. By November 2025, Trump’s influence extended to the United Nations, where a controversial plan for Gaza’s reconstruction and the relocation of Palestinian residents received Security Council approval, with Russia and China choosing to abstain.

The administration’s penchant for transactional deals was further evidenced in April 2025, when El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele proposed a swap involving 252 Venezuelans deported from the U.S. in exchange for Venezuelan political prisoners. White House records indicate that during his first year back in power, President Trump held 45 meetings with 46 different world leaders. This included five high-profile visits from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—who nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize in July 2025—and four separate meetings with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

Michael Froman of the Council on Foreign Relations warned that this brand of personal diplomacy risked undermining established policy frameworks in favor of raw transactionalism and hard power. This approach reached a violent climax in early 2026. On January 3, 2026, U.S. Delta Force units executed Operation Absolute Resolve, launching strikes against Venezuela and capturing its leader, Nicolás Maduro. This followed a year of significant military activity, with the U.S. conducting strikes in Iraq, Nigeria, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen throughout 2025.

While the theatrical nature of the Oval Office meetings defined the administration’s public image, significant shifts occurred on the domestic and military fronts. The second term saw the implementation of massive import tariffs and deep cuts to scientific research funding. Most significantly, in 2025, the administration aligned with Israel to conduct armed strikes against Iranian nuclear facilities, marking a major escalation in regional conflict and cementing the administration's legacy of decisive, if controversial, military intervention.