Donald Trump promises to replace 'randomness with purpose' in foreign policy speech


A more restrained Donald Trump appeared in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, deviating from his usual off-the-cuff speeches to deliver a scripted address on foreign policy. "America first will be the major and overriding theme of my administration," Trump said.
Trump's vision was broad and lacked specific details, with one of his foreign policy advisers telling the media beforehand that Trump was "not going to say 'we're going to send three brigades to do the job.' No. He's going to confirm the principle that ISIS should be destroyed so that the other political settlements can work."
Indeed, Trump listed a number of his goals, including stopping ISIS and radical Islam while "working with our allies in the Muslim world." He additionally defended his Muslim ban as being "a pause for reassessment."
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Trump further named "rebuilding our military" as a goal of a Trump administration, as well as modernizing the nuclear program, restructuring NATO, and treating veterans "really, really well." Trump also adopted a non-interventionist message, assuring that, "If America fights, it must only fight to win."
While he primarily leveled criticisms at President Obama, Trump saved some shots for Hillary Clinton, too. "Our foreign policy is a complete and total disaster," Trump said, vowing to "replace randomness with purpose, ideology with strategy, and chaos with peace."
"We will win, if I become president," Trump said. "We want to bring peace to the world."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jeva Lange was the executive editor at TheWeek.com. She formerly served as The Week's deputy editor and culture critic. She is also a contributor to Screen Slate, and her writing has appeared in The New York Daily News, The Awl, Vice, and Gothamist, among other publications. Jeva lives in New York City. Follow her on Twitter.
-
September 14 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Sunday’s political cartoons include RFK Jr on the hook, the destruction of discourse, and more
-
Air strikes in the Caribbean: Trump’s murky narco-war
Talking Point Drug cartels ‘don’t follow Marquess of Queensberry Rules’, but US military air strikes on speedboats rely on strained interpretation of ‘invasion’
-
Crossword: September 14, 2025
The Week's daily crossword puzzle
-
House posts lewd Epstein note attributed to Trump
Speed Read The estate of Jeffrey Epstein turned over the infamous 2003 birthday note from President Donald Trump
-
Supreme Court allows 'roving' race-tied ICE raids
Speed Read The court paused a federal judge's order barring agents from detaining suspected undocumented immigrants in LA based on race
-
South Korea to fetch workers detained in Georgia raid
Speed Read More than 300 South Korean workers detained in an immigration raid at a Hyundai plant will be released
-
DC sues Trump to end Guard 'occupation'
Speed Read D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb argues that the unsolicited military presence violates the law
-
RFK Jr. faces bipartisan heat in Senate hearing
Speed Read The health secretary defended his leadership amid CDC turmoil and deflected questions about the restricted availability of vaccines
-
White House defends boat strike as legal doubts mount
Speed Read Experts say there was no legal justification for killing 11 alleged drug-traffickers
-
Epstein accusers urge full file release, hint at own list
speed read A rally was organized by Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, who are hoping to force a vote on their Epstein Files Transparency Act
-
Court hands Harvard a win in Trump funding battle
Speed Read The Trump administration was ordered to restore Harvard's $2 billion in research grants