What is “America First,” Really?

America First, you’ve probably heard the slogan more than once but what does it actually mean for the everyday American? How does this critical portion of the Trump administration’s platform impact the individual?

According to WhiteHouse.gov, it is defined as making America safe again, making America affordable and energy dominant, draining the swamp, and restoring American values.

Gaining an understanding of this belief system, of any administration or individual for that matter, is crucial as it will determine the course of their actions.

So what does America First practically mean for America? It is a long-term mindset that seeks to free the United States from excessive dependence on other nations.

A Perspective on Dependency

Dependency can become the greatest enemy of any nation because it leaves them vulnerable to the will and condition of those on whom they rely.

For example, Egypt relied heavily on wheat and sunflower oil imports from Ukraine and Russia and according to the Middle East Institute Policy Center, “85% of [Egypt’s] wheat comes from Russia and Ukraine, as does 73% of its sunflower oil.”

When war broke out, the price of wheat increased by 44%, and sunflower oil rose by 32%—virtually overnight!

In terms of dependency on global organizations such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), borrowing countries are often required to implement certain conditions to ensure the “success” of their economic programs. These may include structural reforms, changes in state-owned enterprises, fiscal transparency, and more.

When a nation chooses to be dependent, it opens itself up to greater vulnerability and instability.

This is not to say that self-sufficiency guarantees complete stability. However, at any moment, a supplier of critical goods could decide to cut off all trade, leaving the dependent nation in crisis.

America First acknowledges that dependency comes with significant costs—including those to national security, public confidence, cultural values, and beyond.
But, just as there is a cost to dependency, there is also a cost to independence.

America First is a decision with a long-term focus, based on the belief that the long-term costs of dependency outweigh those of independence, and for this nation that is the United States, independence is critical to seeing the entirety of this nation practically experiencing restoration.

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