President-Elect Trump and C.F.R. Foreign Policy

This project was made possible in part by a grant from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. By CFR -November 2024

The second Trump administration will face serious foreign policy challenges. CFR offers a full suite of resources to keep track of developments on critical issues and the U.S. role in the world.

Leading Stories

Overcoming Domestic Division to Project Strength Abroad

Expert Brief by Charles A. Kupchan, November 6, 2024

Another Presidential Transition Begins

Blog post by James M. Lindsay, November 5, 2024

CFR Public Forums on U.S. Foreign Policy

Hosted by CFR Events in collaboration with participating universities, October 2024

The 2024 Candidates on Foreign Policy

Compare the Candidates

View our guide to the presidential candidates and their positions on global issues.

Tracker by Noah Berman and Diana Roy, October 14, 2024

View Harris’s PositionsView Trump’s PositionsThe Vice President and Foreign Policy

Events

CFR events, meetings, and webinars pertaining to the 2024 U.S. presidential election.

 Check Out More Events

CFR-Georgia Tech Election Forum

Experts discuss sustainability, artificial intelligence, the future of work, and trade, at the Georgia Institute of Technology.Event featuring Kat Duffy, Varun Sivaram, Heidi Crebo-Rediker, Margaret E. Kosal, Rickey Bevington, and Ángel Cabrera, October 17, 2024

CFR-F&M Election Forum

Experts discuss trade and immigration, the Russia-Ukraine war, U.S.-China relations, and the Middle East, at Franklin & Marshall College in Pennsylvania.Event featuring Michael Froman, Barbara K. Altmann, Elise Labott, Shannon K. O’Neil, Ivan Kanapathy, Evelyn N. Farkas, and Steven A. Cook, October 22, 2024

CFR-GVSU Election Forum

Experts discuss international trade and national security, the U.S.-China relationship, and U.S. engagement in global conflicts, at Grand Valley State University in Michigan.Event featuring Michael Froman, Kori Schake, Rajiv J. Shah, Lingling Wei, and Megan Rydecki, October 21, 2024

The Russia-Ukraine War

How Much U.S. Aid Is Going to Ukraine?

Nine charts illustrate the extraordinary level of support the United States has provided Ukraine in its war against Russian invaders.

Article by Jonathan Masters and Will Merrow, September 27, 2024

North Korean Troops in Russia: A Dangerous New Phase in the Ukraine WarZelenskyy’s ‘Victory Plan’ Has Little Chance of Being ImplementedEvent: Russian Aggression Beyond Ukraine

Conflict in the Middle East

The Threat of Regional Military Expansion in the Mideast

Panelists discuss the latest updates regarding the conflict in the Middle East, the risks of wider escalation, and the role of the United States.

Event featuring Nancy D. Bodurtha, Steven A. Cook, Alex Vatanka, Stanley McChrystal, and Dana El Kurd, October 25, 2024

What Are Iran’s Nuclear and Missile Capabilities?How Vulnerable Is Israel to Iran’s Attacks?One Year After the October 7 Attacks: The Impact on Four Fronts

The Role of Tariffs

Janet Yellen on the Global Economic Outlook

The U.S. Treasury Secretary emphasized the economic benefits of trade, the dangers of high tariffs, and the challenges posed by climate change, pandemics, and China.

Event with Michael Froman and Janet Yellen, October 17, 2024

Explainer: What Are Tariffs?Donald Trump Has Vowed to Raise Tariffs. Can He?Why Tightening Trade Rules Alone Would Not Strengthen U.S. Economic Security

Immigration

How Does Immigration Affect the U.S. Economy?

Presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump differ sharply on the benefits of immigration for the U.S. economy. What role do immigrants play?

In Brief by Diana Roy, October 30, 2024

More CoverageImmigration and Labor Force ParticipationThe U.S. Immigration DebateForeign Affairs: Can the Border Be Fixed Without Sweeping Crackdowns?

Podcasts

The President’s Inbox podcast unpacks some of the most pressing foreign policy challenges facing the next president in this special 2024 U.S. election series.

 Check Out More Episodes

The China Challenge

Experts discuss the challenges the next U.S. president will face navigating relations with China.Podcast featuring James M. Lindsay, Liza Tobin, and Jake Werner

The Axis of Autocracies Challenge

Experts discuss the nature and significance of growing cooperation between China, Iran, North Korea, and Russia.Podcast featuring James M. Lindsay, Jennifer Kavanagh, and Andrea Kendall-Taylor

Staffing a New Administration

Experts discuss the presidential transition process and the challenges that all incoming presidents face in staffing up their administration.Podcast featuring James M. Lindsay and Stephen J. Hadley

View From Abroad

Global Perspectives on the U.S. Election

In this part of a special Council of Councils (CoC) roundup series, experts reflect on why the U.S. election outcome matters for Europe.

Global memo featuring Laura von Daniels, Steven Blockmans, Patrycja Sasnal, and Leslie Vinjamuri, September 3, 2024

CoC: Why the U.S. Election Matters for AfricaCoC: Why the U.S. Election Matters for the AmericasCoC: Why the U.S. Election Matters for the Middle East

China

Would Trump Abandon Taiwan?

Taiwan must contend not just with the prospect of a second Donald Trump presidency, but with a broader U.S. shift towards weaker regional engagement.

Blog post by David Sacks via East Asia Forum, October 16, 2024

Introducing CFR’s China Strategy InitiativeForeign Affairs: Does China Prefer Harris or Trump?The Contentious U.S.-China Trade RelationshipRegionsTopicsDefense and SecurityDiplomacy and International InstitutionsEconomicsEnergy and EnvironmentHealthHuman RightsPolitics and GovernmentSocial IssuesType

• CybersecurityCyber Week in Review: October 18, 2024Freedom House publishes report; EU passes Cyber Resilience Act; Meta takes down influence operation in Moldova; OpenAI releases report on use of AI for election misinformation; domestic, pro-Trump AI influence campaign identified.Blog Post by Kat Duffy, Kyle Fendorf and Maya Schmidt  October 18, 2024  Net Politics
• United StatesElection 2024: Is the United States Ready to Confront the Axis of Autocracies?Each Friday, I look at what the presidential contenders are saying about foreign policy. This week: Rising cooperation among China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea will likely test whoever takes office on Inauguration Day.Blog Post by James M. Lindsay  October 18, 2024  The Water's Edge
• Elections and VotingThe 2024 Elections and Foreign InfluenceCait Conley, senior advisor to the director at the Cybersecurity and Information Security Agency (CISA), discusses protecting democratic processes from foreign cyber and disinformation attacks. A que…Webinar with Caitlin C. Conley and Irina A. Faskianos  October 18, 2024  State and Local Webinars
• Election 2024CFR-Georgia Tech Election 2024 U.S. Foreign Policy Public ForumJoin us for an in-depth, nonpartisan conversation on America’s role in the world and the foreign policy issues at stake in the 2024 election, including sustainability, artificial intelligence, national security, and trade and economics. Panelists with distinguished careers in government, business, and academia will discuss the trade-offs presented by different policy options both locally and globally and provide context on the international issues, choices, and challenges facing the next president. We will livestream this conversation here. You can register to attend in person. Don’t miss this opportunity to participate in an interactive discussion on how U.S. foreign policy decisions impact the trajectory of global affairs and your community. To learn more about the foreign policy issues at play in the 2024 campaign, explore CFR’s Election 2024 hub for candidates’ stances and expert analysis on international challenges facing the United States. Take a deeper dive into the foreign policy issues that could affect Georgia. The CFR Election 2024 initiative is made possible in part by a grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York.Event with Heidi Crebo-Rediker, Kat Duffy, Margaret E. Kosal, Varun Sivaram, Rickey Bevington and Ángel Cabrera  October 17, 2024  Election 2024 Events
• TaiwanWould Trump Abandon Taiwan?Taiwan must contend not just with the prospect of a second Trump presidency, but with a broader U.S. shift towards weaker regional engagement. Blog Post by David Sacks  October 16, 2024  Asia Unbound
• DemocracyReligion and Foreign Policy Webinar: Religion in the 2024 U.S. ElectionAdelle M. Banks, projects editor and national reporter for Religion News Service, and Adam Nicholas Phillips, chief strategy officer and chief of staff at Interfaith America, discuss the evolving role of religious constituencies in U.S. politics, as well as the intersection of religion with key political and social issues in the lead up to the 2024 election.  Virtual Event with Adelle M. Banks, Adam Nicholas Phillips and Irina A. Faskianos  October 15, 2024  Religion and Foreign Policy Series
• United StatesGlobal Board of Advisors Lunch With Members: What Does the World Think of the United States in 2024?At the midpoint of CFR’s Global Board of Advisors’ annual two-day summit, we invite you to a seated lunch with members of CFR’s Global Board. The lunch will be followed by a discussion featuring a panel of Global Board members from various regions. The panel will explore external perceptions of current affairs in the United States, with a particular focus on the upcoming 2024 presidential election.Virtual Event with Henadi Al-Saleh, Julie I. Bishop, André Esteves, Gbenga Oyebode and Lori Esposito Murray  October 15, 2024
• Election 2024The U.S. presidential election could undermine Europe's democratic foundations. Here's how.Featuring Liana Fix via National Journal  October 15, 2024
• United StatesElection 2024: Which Party Will Control Congress?Each Friday, I look at what the presidential contenders are saying about foreign policy. This week: The competition for control of the House and Senate looks to be as close as the race for the White House.Blog Post by James M. Lindsay  October 11, 2024  The Water's Edge
• CybersecurityCyber Week in Review: October 11, 2024Judge orders Google to overhaul Play Store fees; Chinese hackers breach U.S. wiretaps; Russia, Turkey block Discord; EU adopts new sanctions against Russia; NYU study: AI-labeled ads can reduce trust.Blog Post by Kat Duffy, Kyle Fendorf and Maya Schmidt  October 11, 2024  Net Politics
• Election 2024Meddling in U.S. Elections, Florida Reels from Twin Storms, Nobel Peace Laureate to Be Named, and MoreIntelligence officials warn of foreign meddling in the U.S. presidential and congressional elections; Hurricane Milton marks second straight weather blow to the U.S. southeast; this year’s Nobel Peace Prize winner is announced in Norway; and Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico vows to block Ukraine’s bid to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).  Podcast with Robert McMahon and Carla Anne Robbins  October 10, 2024  The World Next Week
• United StatesCFR-ASU Election 2024 U.S. Foreign Policy Public ForumPanelists with distinguished careers in government, business, and academia hold an in-depth, nonpartisan conversation on America's role in the word. They discuss the trade-offs presented by different policy options both locally and globally and provide context on the international issues, choices, and challenges facing the next president—including trade and national security, the U.S.-China relationship, and U.S.-Mexico relations.Event with Michael Froman, Doug Guthrie, Shannon K. O'Neil, Isaiah Wilson III and Elise Labott  October 9, 2024  Election 2024 Events
• UkraineWhy the U.S. Presidential Election Matters for UkraineVice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump offer sharply different approaches on U.S. policy toward Ukraine’s war with Russia, reflecting broader disagreement toward NATO and U.S. alliances.Expert Brief by Paul B. Stares and Molly Carlough  October 9, 2024
• Election 2024Why Fracking Matters in the 2024 U.S. ElectionThe fracking boom has transformed the United States into the world’s leading producer of oil and gas. With presidential candidates Harris and Trump clashing on climate and energy policy, the practice is once again in the spotlight.In Brief by Diana Roy  October 8, 2024
• United StatesThe CHIPS Act: How U.S. Microchip Factories Could Reshape the EconomyThe CHIPS and Science Act seeks to revitalize the U.S. semiconductor industry amid growing fears of a China-Taiwan conflict. Where is the money going, and how is the effort playing out?In Brief by Diana Roy  October 8, 2024
• United StatesElection 2024: Where the Election Stands One Month Before Election DayEach Friday, I look at what the presidential contenders are saying about foreign policy. This week: With polls showing a neck-and-neck race, both presidential campaigns are looking to turn out their supporters.Blog Post by James M. Lindsay  October 4, 2024  The Water's Edge
• Middle East and North AfricaIran-Israel Escalation, Harris and Trump Seek Hispanic Vote, Biden in Germany, and MoreHostilities between Iran and Israel reach a new level after Israel’s ground invasion in southern Lebanon and the latest Iranian missile attack on Israel; U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump hold separate town halls to reach undecided Hispanic voters; U.S. President Joe Biden heads to Germany to shore up military support for Ukraine; and Norway considers building a fence on its border with Russia.Podcast with Robert McMahon and Carla Anne Robbins  October 3, 2024  The World Next Week
• Election 2024CFR-Brookings Institution Election 2024 Virtual Public Event: Technology and Electoral DynamicsThe Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and the Brookings Institution Foreign Policy Program collaborated to convene an expert discussion that examined the role of technology and electoral dynamics in the 2024 election. As part of a series of virtual events convened by CFR and Brookings in the lead-up to Election Day, the conversation examined how the perception of technology is influencing electoral credibility; cybersecurity and election integrity; and what is at stake for safeguarding our democratic processes in an era of disinformation. The series is a part of Election 2024, a CFR initiative focused on exploring the United States’ role in the world, how international affairs issues affect voters, and the foreign policy issues at stake in November, and Election ’24: Issues at Stake, a Brookings initiative aimed to bring public attention to consequential policy issues confronting voters and policymakers in the run up to the 2024 election. Both projects are made possible in part by grants from Carnegie Corporation of New York.Webinar with Kat Duffy, Elaine C. Kamarck and Marcus Mabry  October 2, 2024  Election 2024 Events
• TradeThe Trade Challenge, With Edward Alden and Ana Swanson (Election 2024, Episode 3)Edward Alden, a senior fellow at the CFR and the Ross Distinguished Visiting Professor at Western Washington University, and Ana Swanson, a trade and international economics journalist at the New York Times, sit down with James M. Lindsay to discuss opportunities and constraints that the next U.S. president will confront on U.S. trade policy. This episode is the third in a special TPI series on the U.S. 2024 presidential election and is supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.Podcast with James M. Lindsay, Edward Alden and Ana Swanson  October 1, 2024  The President’s Inbox
• Election 2024Walz Against Vancewith Liana Fix via ARD  October 1, 2024
• Middle East ProgramTrump and Harris on Middle East Policywith Steven A. Cook via The Liberal Patriot  September 30, 2024
• United StatesElection 2024: Are Americans Ready for Another Close Presidential Election?Each Friday, I look at what the presidential contenders are saying about foreign policy. This week: Election 2024 could produce another controversial and chaotic outcome that intensifies rather than closes the country’s divisions.Blog Post by James M. Lindsay  September 27, 2024  The Water's Edge
• Climate ChangeThe Climate Challenge, With Alice Hill and Varun Sivaram (Election 2024, Episode 2)Alice Hill, the David M. Rubenstein senior fellow for energy and the environment at CFR, and Varun Sivaram, a senior fellow for energy and climate at CFR, sit down with James M. Lindsay to discuss what the United States has done and should do to confront a changing climate. This episode is the second in a special TPI series on the U.S. 2024 presidential election and is supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York.Podcast with James M. Lindsay, Alice C. Hill and Varun Sivaram  September 24, 2024  The President’s Inbox
• Sub-Saharan AfricaElection 2024 and the Future of U.S.-Africa PolicySenior Fellows Michelle Gavin and Ebenezer Obadare discuss the role of Africa in American politics and how U.S.-Africa policy might change in a potential Trump or Harris administration.Blog Post by Michelle Gavin and Ebenezer Obadare  September 23, 2024  Africa in Transition