Trump Administration's Hostility Toward Allies and Independent Thinkers Is Backfiring
Source: Fred Kaplan. "Ukraine Iran: J.D. Vance is learning an important foreign policy lesson the hard way.." August 13, 2026. slate.com
The Gist
The author argues that Trump and Vance are now paying the price for years of treating allies badly and dismissing smart, independent-minded military officers as 'woke.' He points to Vance having to beg Zelensky for a favor after previously humiliating him, NATO allies refusing to help with the Iran war after being mistreated, and the Pentagon struggling to find good strategic ideas after gutting officer education programs.
Conclusion
The Trump administration, and Vance in particular, is learning the hard way that treating allies with contempt and suppressing independent military thinking undermines American interests and forces embarrassing reversals.
Premises
- Vance had to plead with Zelensky—a leader he had previously humiliated and insulted—to stop drone attacks on Russian oil tankers because they were raising global gas prices and hurting Trump's popularity.
- This reversal came after Vance and Trump had treated Zelensky with hostility, including the February 2025 Oval Office confrontation and subsequent cuts to military aid.
- When Trump asked NATO allies to help with the war on Iran, most refused, likely due to years of Trump yelling at them, threatening to leave NATO, and suggesting he might not defend them from Russian invasion.
- Many allied nations are now seeking alternative security, trade, and supply relationships that rely less on the U.S., and a Pew poll shows people in 25 of 36 surveyed nations view China more favorably than the U.S.
- The Pentagon under Hegseth has eliminated officer fellowship programs at civilian universities (calling them 'woke') and focused on physical fitness tests instead of strategic education.
- Despite this anti-intellectual stance, a CENTCOM officer had to send an unusual crowdsourcing email asking for 'creative and unconventional' ideas to pressure Iran, revealing a lack of good strategic options.
- Better strategic ideas are more likely to come from officers seasoned in academic seminars and battlefield experience than from leaders who prioritize pushups and testosterone tests over intellectual development.
Assumptions
- Allies who are treated well are more likely to act cooperatively and offer support or good counsel when needed.
- Military effectiveness and strategic creativity are enhanced by intellectual/academic training, not just physical fitness.
- The Trump administration's foreign policy approach was previously dismissive of the value of alliances and intellectual independence in the military.
- The described incidents (Vance's plea, NATO's refusal, the CENTCOM email) are representative of broader patterns rather than isolated events.
- Global perception polls (like Pew) meaningfully reflect the practical costs of alienating allies.