Foreign Relations Enter Uncertain Era in Trump’s Second Term
As economic clashes, espionage fears, and unilateral moves mount, America’s global alliances fray under the weight of the second Trump administration.
Trump’s second administration is nearing its 100-day mark as a wave of foreign policy shifts reshape international relations. This comes amid escalating trade wars with nearly every country that trades with the United States—most notably China, which now faces tariffs of up to 245%. As The Introspective previously reported, espionage concerns have also intensified. The European Commission, a key arm of the European Union (EU), has begun issuing burner phones and basic laptops to staff traveling to the U.S., reflecting growing distrust toward American institutions.
Anti-immigrant sentiment and policies have sparked backlash, particularly following the wrongful deportation of Kilmar Abrego Gracia—a legal Maryland resident—to El Salvador. Despite international outcry, officials from both the United States and El Salvador have refused to facilitate Abrego Gracia’s return. Tensions with Mexico have also deepened over immigration enforcement and sovereignty concerns. As The Introspective reported, these frictions stem from increased unauthorized crossings at the U.S.-Mexico border since 2021 and allegations by Trump that Mexican drug cartels are bringing fentanyl into the country.
Further backlash has emerged from Canada and the EU, both of which have issued travel advisories as LGBTQ+ rights face renewed scrutiny under the Trump administration.
Trade War Chaos and Espionage Fears
Trump’s ongoing trade war has rattled global stock markets, following The Introspective’s earlier report detailing a tariff hike on Chinese imports to 125%, with threats of increases up to 245%. In response, China retaliated with its own set of tariffs, raising alarms among economic experts.
“The U.S. and China are in a state of economic decoupling, and there do not seem to be any guardrails to prevent escalations in trade tensions from spreading to other areas,” said Rick Waters, a former U.S. diplomat, in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.
“It’s becoming more difficult to argue that we’re not in a new Cold War.”
Beijing later added U.S.-based companies such as Novotech to its export control list and placed over a dozen others on its “unreliable entities” list. Chinese officials have warned they will retaliate against any country that partners with the U.S. in ways that challenge China’s interests.
“China firmly opposes any party reaching a deal at the expense of China’s interests. If this happens, China will not accept it and will resolutely take reciprocal countermeasures,” the Chinese Ministry of Commerce said in a statement.
In Canada, newly imposed 25% tariffs have significantly strained cross-border commerce. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney declared that the long-standing allied relationship with the United States is effectively over.
“The old relationship we had with the United States—based on deepening integration of our economies and tight security and military cooperation—is over,” Carney said in March.
“We must fundamentally reimagine our economy. We will need to ensure that Canada can succeed in a drastically different world.”
According to research from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the tariffs could reduce Canada’s GDP by 2.6% and cost the average Canadian more than $1,900 annually. In the U.S., consumers could lose approximately $1,300 each year, with disruptions projected across the agriculture, energy, and automotive sectors.
“Trade isn’t just about dollars—it’s about people,” said Candace Laing, president and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, in a press release.
“While governments might disagree, the ties between our businesses, workers, and communities are too important to be collateral damage in political disputes.”
More than $3.6 billion in goods cross the U.S.-Canada border daily. Canada is the top export market for 34 U.S. states, meaning any disruptions affect millions of jobs on both sides.
Mexico, also targeted with a 25% tariff and additional duties on steel and aluminum, remains locked in negotiations with Washington to ease trade tensions. So far, no agreement has been reached.
“We haven’t yet reached an agreement, but there’s communication at the level of commerce and economy ministers—and between presidents,” said Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum in an interview with Bloomberg.
Relations worsened after Trump signed an executive order labeling Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. He also declared a national emergency at the southern border and deployed troops.
“To protect the security and safety of United States citizens, to protect each of the states against invasion, and to uphold my duty to take care that the laws be faithfully executed, it is my responsibility as president to ensure that the illegal entry of aliens into the United States via the southern border be immediately and entirely stopped,” Trump said in a statement.
Sovereignty concerns escalated after the CIA confirmed that a drone strike program—initially launched under President Joe Biden and later expanded by Trump—was targeting suspected cartel members and fentanyl labs in Mexico. The Introspective previously reported on Sheinbaum’s push for constitutional reforms aimed at protecting Mexican sovereignty.
“The Mexican people will under no circumstances accept interventions, intrusions, or any other action from abroad that are detrimental to the integrity, independence, or sovereignty of the nation… [including] violations of Mexican territory, whether by land, sea, or air,” Sheinbaum said.
The reforms propose increased penalties for both foreigners and Mexican nationals involved in arms trafficking. Most firearms used in Mexico are smuggled from the United States.
Espionage fears are also growing across Europe. As The Introspective previously reported, the European Commission began issuing burner phones and laptops to staff traveling to the United States. These precautions followed reports of European tourists and academics being denied U.S. entry for posting critical comments about the Trump administration on social media or carrying related documents.
“Washington is not Beijing or Moscow, but it is an adversary that is prone to use extra-legal methods to further its interests and power,” said Luuk van Middelaar, director of the Brussels Institute for Geopolitics, in an interview with The Financial Times.
Officials have also warned staff to power down phones at the U.S. border and store them in secure sleeves to prevent unauthorized surveillance.
“They are worried about the U.S. getting into the commission’s systems,” said one official.
“The transatlantic alliance is over.”
Increasing Isolation
The United States has faced mounting accusations of isolationism during President Trump’s second term, following the announcement that the country will officially withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2026. This marks the second time the U.S. has left the organization since the COVID-19 pandemic. Studies show that the U.S. previously funded approximately 30% of global health initiatives, including through agencies such as the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).
“World Health ripped us off. Everybody rips off the United States. It’s not going to happen anymore,” Trump said in a previous Introspective report.
Simultaneously, Trump announced plans to withdraw from the Paris Agreement—a 2016 treaty signed by countries around the world to address climate change. The move has sparked significant backlash, as research indicates the United States has contributed 20% of all global greenhouse gas emissions since the Industrial Revolution, the largest share globally.
Further tensions have emerged over the conflict in Ukraine, as U.S. involvement with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) has fractured. Under Trump, the U.S. has supported Russia, marking a stark shift in foreign relations.
“You’re gambling with World War III. And what you’re doing is very disrespectful to this country, which has backed you far more than a lot of people said we should have,” Trump said to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a previous Introspective report, underscoring deteriorating relations between the two nations.
In February, the United States stunned global leaders when it sided with Russia during a United Nations session that condemned the war in Ukraine. NATO members, meanwhile, reaffirmed their support for Ukraine’s sovereignty.
“We need to reconfirm that aggression should be condemned and discredited—not rewarded,” said Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa, according to a report by the BBC.
Since then, peace negotiations involving Russia and Ukraine have repeatedly involved the U.S., with critics arguing that Washington is inflaming tensions. The United States has proposed recognizing Crimea—a Ukrainian peninsula occupied by Russia—as Russian territory, further escalating hostilities as fighting continues.
Immigration and LGBTQ Backlash
Anti-immigrant sentiment has surged throughout President Trump’s second term, culminating in the wrongful deportation of Maryland resident Kilmar Abrego Gracia—a legal U.S. resident since 2019—to El Salvador. Despite officials admitting his deportation was a mistake, both Salvadoran and American authorities have refused to facilitate his return, even after the Introspective reported that the U.S. Supreme Court had ordered it.
“How can I return him to the United States?” Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele asked reporters.
“Of course I’m not going to do it. The question is preposterous.”
Further controversy erupted after the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian and Columbia University student who is also a permanent U.S. resident. He was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over his participation in protests supporting Palestine. Since then, more than 1,500 international student visas have been revoked.
ICE has also detained and arrested numerous foreign tourists. A previous Introspective report detailed the high-profile case of Canadian actress and entrepreneur Jasmine Mooney—known for her roles in the American Pie franchise—who was detained for two weeks while attempting to renew her work visa.
“We eventually learned that about 30 people, including Jasmine, were removed from their cells at 3 a.m. and transferred to the San Luis Detention Center in Arizona,” said Mooney’s mother, Alexis Eagles.
“They are housed together in a single concrete cell with no natural light, fluorescent lights that are never turned off, no mats, no blankets, and limited bathroom facilities.”
That same report highlighted the case of German citizen Lucas Sielaff, who was detained by ICE while returning from a day trip to Mexico with his fiancé, Lennon Tyler, a U.S. citizen. Sielaff was jailed for 16 days before being deported to Germany.
“Nobody is safe there anymore to come to America as a tourist,” Sielaff said
According to Euronews, international tourism to the U.S. has declined since the start of Trump’s second term. As of 2025, the number of foreign visitors dropped by 3.3%. In March 2025 alone, there were 45,800 fewer visitors from the United Kingdom compared to March 2024. Germany saw an even steeper decline, with 52,200 fewer visitors.
“There is considerable evidence that the new government scrutinizes migrants, foreign students, even green card holders. Unwarranted individuals are deported. This presents the U.S. in a new light that is no longer welcoming, something that deters tourism,” said Stefan Gössling, a professor at Linnaeus University in Sweden.
“This has already caused boycotts of U.S. products and services in many European countries, and tourism may also be considered as a way to harm the U.S. economy.”
Simultaneously, the rollback of LGBTQ+ rights—particularly legislation targeting transgender people—has prompted warnings from allied nations. Several European Union countries, including Denmark, Finland, and Germany, have issued travel advisories for citizens visiting the United States.
“Travelers who have the gender entry ‘X’ or whose current gender entry differs from their gender entry at birth should contact the relevant U.S. diplomatic mission in Germany before entering the country and find out the applicable entry requirements,” read Germany’s advisory.
Canada has also updated its travel guidelines, now requiring citizens visiting the U.S. for 30 days or longer to register with the American government. The country is encouraging its citizens and officials to “take normal security precautions.”
As tensions rise and alliances shift, America’s role on the world stage is being redefined. These developments underscore the far-reaching consequences of isolationist policies, while raising questions about the country’s global commitments and values moving forward.