President Donald Trump, after becoming the 47th president of the USA, reignited national and global debates not only over his policies but also over his leadership style. This has sharply divided public opinion and reshaped the political landscape. So now the question arises: is Trump a conservative or a dynamic leader?

Conservative leaders are those who prioritise the preservation of national sovereignty, a continuous foreign policy, and traditional alliances. It emphasises state-centric approaches, limited multilateral engagement, strong borders, and a realistic view of international cooperation. 

On the other hand, dynamic leaders are adaptive and courageous, often following disruptive approaches in global engagement. They welcome change and pursue innovative foreign policies as well as strategies and at every step redefine the state’s global role through diplomacy or non-traditional alliances. 

Trump signed 176 Executive Orders, including America First Foreign Policy, Imposing Sanctions on the International Criminal Court, and Putting America First in International Environmental Agreements. Protecting the American People Against Invasion, Realigning the United States Refugee Admissions Program, Ending Taxpayer Subsidisation of Open Borders, Protecting the United States From Foreign Terrorists and Other National Security and Public Safety Threats, Transparency Regarding Foreign Influence at American Universities, and One Voice for America’s Foreign Relations. 

All these reflect a realistic and nationalistic foreign policy approach, from which the United States of America has been benefiting. For example, withdrawals from the Paris Agreement, the World Health Organisation (WHO), and the International Criminal Court (ICC) ended US involvement in global commitments that were seen as disadvantageous, while eliminating subsidies for foreign-controlled energy sources helped reduce foreign influence on domestic policies and enhanced the nation’s ability to act independently during crises. 

Then the introduction of reciprocal tariffs also aimed to end unfair energy trade, and by early 2025, the U.S. had already generated $87 billion in tariff revenue, which helped protect American industries from unfair foreign competition. 

Another notable conservative policy was ending open border subsidies and tighter visa rules. These actions reduced illegal immigration, eased pressure on welfare systems and employment opportunities, and improved national security. 

According to CBP, there were 25,228 total encounters—the lowest monthly total in history—with only 8,024 apprehensions nationwide and zero parole releases, compared to 27,766 in June 2024. 

Furthermore, fentanyl and other drug seizures increased by 13% overall, with meth up 102% and heroin up 19%. CBP officials cited these as historic wins and acknowledged the strong public support for stricter border enforcement. Meanwhile, the U.S. defense budget for FY2025–26 is approximately $850 billion, reflecting a commitment to national defence. Lastly, the “One Voice for America’s Foreign Relations” policy, which limits foreign policy communication to the President and State Department, aims to prevent contradictory messages, ensure alignment, and eliminate freelance diplomacy. Donald Trump believes that these conservative policies will ultimately “Make America Great Again.”

Repeatedly, there have been several constructive foreign policies introduced under Donald Trump’s leadership, particularly highlighting America’s technological and economic strength. One such example is the policy to protect the export of the American AI technology stack, which aims to boost U.S. exports of full-stack AI technologies, championed by tech giants like Nvidia, AMD, Google, Meta, Palantir, and others. 

This move not only supports American leadership in AI but also advances exports, fosters strategic tech alliances, and contributes to high-tech job growth. 

Another significant step toward modernising the financial system is the establishment of a strategic Bitcoin reserve and a national digital asset stockpile, which consolidates seized crypto assets into national strategic holdings—signaling America’s entry into modern financial asset management. 

The U.S.-China trade war serves as a prime example of Trump’s dynamic foreign policy. It challenged global norms like the WTO’s free-trade model by imposing a 125% tariff on China and 10% on other countries. 

This bold intervention aimed to protect U.S. industries such as steel and aluminum, giving domestic producers a more competitive edge. The trade war sent a clear message to the world that the United States would aggressively defend its economic interests, even at the cost of rising tensions, thereby repositioning America as a tough and strategic negotiator. 

In addition, policies such as delaying the enforcement of TikTok restrictions, firing bureaucrats, promoting advanced nuclear reactors, increasing transparency in education and healthcare, enhancing state and local preparedness, and supporting Alaska’s resource development are active and ongoing initiatives. 

These dynamic policies reflect Trump’s leadership approach, which emphasises unpredictability, bold actions, and centralised power. Collectively, these are all dynamic policies undertaken by Trump, and each of them plays a role in his broader vision of making America great again.

Kishore Mahbubani, an international relations scholar, observed Trump as a rational geopolitical actor who behaved like a traditional great power that prioritised US interests over global partnerships. A research centre survey also found that from 24 countries, 67% of people think Trump is a strong leader. 

As a student of international relations, my perception is that Trump is ideologically conservative, driven by strong nationalism but methodologically, a dynamic using bold, confrontational and at times chaotic leadership tactics. So yes, Trump is both conservative and dynamic but only because he believes that this combination is what will “Make America Great Again.”

What do you think?