Foreign Policy: Grading Trump’s Second Term So Far

Following Dinesh D’Souza and Dave Smith’s clash on what really is America First last week, fault lines were largely drawn on geopolitical lines. Core differences between the Carlson-Gaetz-Bannon and Shapiro-Levin-Loomer camps of the conservative movement lie on issues like the U.S. relationship to Israel, the capture of Maduro, with some GOP hawks still supporting intervention in Eastern Europe.

Given the divide is on these grounds, the question is: How has Trump done on foreign policy in his second term?

Answering this question, tonight we’ll host Trump’s former National Security Council Chief of Staff Fred Fleitz against Libertarian Institute founder and antiwar.com editor Scott Horton covering South America to Middle East to Europe to Asia.

What the President does with Iran in the face of Israeli and neocon pressure may be a key question in the coming days.

The only reason America doesn’t have good relations with Iran is because Israel forbids it. https://t.co/MgxCeUngXC

— Scott Horton (@scotthortonshow) January 20, 2026

Horton is firmly is the “stay the hell out” corner while Fleitz recently made his call for intervention known, citing agreement with former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich:

“The demonstrations may have stopped or ebbed because security forces are shooting at even small groups of people who gather on the street. Iran’s FM yesterday told Fox that executions were off for Wednesday and Thursday but could not say about Friday. Other Iranian officials seem determined to begin executions. The regime is blaming the US, Israel, and drug traffickers  for the protests. Iranian officials are sending large funds out of the country. The US reportedly is moving military assets into the region, including the USS Lincoln aircraft carrier. I agree with Newt Gingrich that the Iranian regime is not about to fall but is struggling to survive.  I also agree with Newt that the Iranian people cannot overthrow the regime without outside help. Iran will never be the same after this brutal crackdown. The fall of the regime is within sight.”

My take on the current situation in Iran.

The demonstrations may have stopped or ebbed because security forces are shooting at even small groups of people who gather on the street.

Iran’s FM yesterday told Fox that executions were off for Wednesday and Thursday but could not…

— Fred Fleitz (@FredFleitz) January 15, 2026

Another open question of Trump’s foreign policy is the fate of Greenland. Hosting will be David Rand from the Human Reaction podcast.

We’ll see you tonight at 7pm ET, live on the homepage, X, and YouTube.