Trump's 'Upending': Same Empire, New Management
📰 THE STORY: Al Jazeera's 'The Bottom Line' features former Trump official Christian Whiton discussing how Trump's potential second term would 'reset' US relations with the world, suggesting he'd 'upend 80 years of US foreign policy' by challenging long-standing alliances and agreements. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: The idea that Trump 'upends' 80 years of foreign policy
ignores that US foreign policy has consistently pursued global strategic interests, often through interventions, coups, and proxy conflicts, irrespective of who occupies the Oval Office. From the 1953 CIA coup in Iran to the 1973 coup in Chile or the arming of Saddam Hussein in the 1980s, the playbook has remained remarkably consistent in maximizing US influence and corporate profits. 'Reset'
often means a tactical shift, not an ideological one. Double Standard: When Trump threatens to withdraw from NATO or challenge trade deals, it's framed as 'upending' policy. Yet, the continuous US support for Israeli apartheid, providing over $3.8 billion annually despite international condemnation and ICJ rulings, is rarely presented as a deviation from 'democratic values' or 'human rights' in
the same alarmist tone. The 'rules-based order' is selectively applied. Follow the Money: The 'foreign policy establishment' that Trump supposedly disrupts is heavily funded by defense contractors, fossil fuel lobbyists, and pro-Israel PACs. Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, and Boeing regularly pour millions into think tanks and congressional campaigns. A 'reset' doesn’t necessarily mean a reduction in