A Transactional Approach: Trump’s Strategy to Make America Profitable
Sandego.net – When Donald Trump campaigned for the presidency, his central pledge was to prioritize American interests above all else. Now, as he leads the nation, his administration operates with a clear objective: ensuring the United States receives financial compensation for its global engagements. Rather than viewing America as a moral leader promoting democratic values, Trump treats international relations much like a commercial negotiation where every interaction should yield tangible returns.
This business-minded perspective has shaped numerous diplomatic initiatives during his second term. The administration has pursued various methods to collect revenue from other nations, whether through imposing import duties, demanding payment for security guarantees, or seeking partial ownership of valuable resources abroad. These efforts extend beyond traditional diplomacy to include ambitious territorial interests in Greenland, Canada, and control over the Panama Canal.
Recent Examples of the “Get Paid” Philosophy
Several high-profile incidents illustrate this approach. Trump initially proposed implementing a twenty percent fee on commercial vessels navigating the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that American naval protection warranted compensation. Although he later withdrew this proposal, the concept revealed his thinking about monetizing military presence. Similarly, his administration restructured Venezuela’s oil exports, supporting the existing authoritarian government while marginalizing democratic forces, thereby positioning the United States to benefit financially from petroleum sales.
Another notable case involved the Gordie Howe Bridge connecting Detroit and Windsor. Despite Canada covering construction expenses, Trump insisted the United States should receive ownership stakes. The bridge’s inauguration was postponed while both nations negotiated terms. According to the Canadian government, the structure will reopen on July 27, with Canada agreeing to share net toll revenues with an American economic development fund over fifteen years.
“The word ‘net’ does a lot of work in this. We are sharing after Canada is paid back,” Carney explained during a CTV interview. “There’s not going to be a lot of net to split.”
Ukraine has also experienced this transactional shift. Relations improved when Trump identified American interests in Ukrainian rare earth minerals, suggesting the United States now holds a financial stake in Kyiv’s future.
Setting the Record Straight on Claims and Costs
The legal foundation for charging tolls on international waters remains questionable, particularly since Iran established its own collection system beforehand. Nevertheless, Trump quickly pivoted from the shipping fee concept to promising alternative payments from Middle Eastern nations. He announced via social media that trade and investment agreements would replace the proposed reimbursement fee.
Behind these maneuvers lies a broader narrative about American contributions warranting compensation. The Pentagon has not officially calculated expenses related to ongoing hostilities with Iran, though independent observers estimate costs exceeding forty billion dollars. Regular citizens feel these financial impacts whenever they fill their vehicles with gasoline.
Trump frequently references an impressive figure of nineteen trillion dollars in foreign investments supposedly secured during his presidency. However, CNN correspondent Daniel Dale has attempted to verify this claim without success, finding no evidence approaching that magnitude. Despite this discrepancy, the assertion persists in official communications.
Import tariffs form another pillar of his economic strategy. While most economists maintain that American households ultimately bear tariff costs through increased prices, Trump maintains that foreign exporters shoulder the burden. Ironically, the federal government is currently refunding billions in tariffs that the Supreme Court determined should never have been collected in the first place, with over forty-nine billion dollars returned to importers in June alone.
History offers cautionary tales from Trump’s previous administration. His repeated assertions that Mexico would finance a border wall proved unfounded, demonstrating that ambitious financial expectations do not always materialize. Yet, Trump continues to operate under the conviction that American military strength and economic power represent untapped resources waiting to generate revenue for the United States.
