Some even grew up assuming that this was America’s duty. Seventy percent of NATO’s defense spending? Of course. Fighting terrorism in the Middle East? Naturally. Helping North Africa rid itself of dictatorships? Why not? Bankrolling Ukraine’s survival and Taiwan’s protection? Just another line item.
The small detail that many conveniently ignore is that the Biden administration and the Democrats have been giving away money America doesn’t have. When you’re drowning in $36 trillion of debt and sending $300 billion abroad, there’s only one way to do it—borrow.
The time for a reality check has come. And it’s not a small one.
Ever since The Heritage Foundation introduced “Project 2025” and President Trump launched his campaign on the “America First” platform, it’s been clear that we are living in a new political reality.
The conservative movement in the U.S. has drawn a firm line: America will no longer play the world’s policeman, nor will it keep paying for wars and peacekeeping efforts that don’t directly serve its interests. The time has come for the U.S. to take care of itself first.
The formula was laid out. Trump campaigned on it relentlessly. His transition team crafted executive orders designed to implement it. And since January 20th, his administration has been executing that vision—exactly as promised, exactly as the American people voted for.
And yet, despite the year-long campaign, the months of preparation, and the clarity of Trump’s agenda, the world is somehow shocked. Offended. Insulted. Depressed.
Why?
The administration is simply keeping its promises. We’ve all had ample time to understand those promises and the rationale behind them. The message couldn’t be clearer: America First.
That means prioritizing the recovery of Hawaii from the devastating wildfires of two years ago instead of funding irrigation systems for the Taliban’s poppy fields in Afghanistan.
That means rebuilding homes in Los Angeles after the wildfires two months ago and investing in water infrastructure across California rather than paying for sex-change clinics in India.
That means helping North Carolina recover from a hurricane instead of funding LGBTQ+ pride events across Europe.
That means securing the southern border—stopping illegal migration, fentanyl smuggling, and child trafficking—instead of financing left-leaning media networks and political engineering in countries most Americans have never heard of.
That means cutting waste, slashing bureaucracy, eliminating unnecessary regulations, and saving every taxpayer dollar to finally take control of America’s ballooning debt—rather than funding a bloated USAID network of 55,000 NGOs siphoning hundreds of millions from the U.S. budget.
No, it’s not going to be pretty. Many around the world will be disappointed, offended, even outraged. But that’s not America’s concern. It never was, and it never should be.
Trump’s insistence that NATO allies pay their fair share is not an insult—it’s fairness. Protecting American industries with tariffs isn’t a trade war—it’s economic self-defense. Renegotiating alliances and partnerships isn’t a threat—it’s a necessary shift toward a future where America prioritizes itself, rather than acting as a charitable global enforcer.
This is exactly what Trump, the GOP, and the newly elected representatives promised the American people. And it’s exactly what the American people voted for.
So, my European friends, you may be shocked and disappointed. Maybe even rightfully so. But America First was never designed to make you feel good. It was designed with one goal in mind: to make America great again.
And trust me, as difficult as it may be to accept now, we need that. We need our most important ally to be strong, stable, and prosperous.
Just like it was when America helped Europe defeat Hitler and rebuild itself. We can do it again—together. And it will be beautiful.
George Harizanov is the CEO of the Institute for Right-Wing Policies in Sofia, Bulgaria.
