Former Vice President Mike Pence isn't holding back on his successor's foreign policy vision. On Tuesday, he tore into President Donald Trump's newly released national security strategy, calling it a "doctrine of contradictions" that risks pleasing America's adversaries while leaving allies scratching their heads.
A Strategic Shift That Raised Eyebrows
The 33-page document, released last Friday, represents a sharp departure from Trump's first-term approach, which centered on "great power competition" with China and Russia. This time around, the focus has shifted dramatically toward the Western Hemisphere, emphasizing migration and drug trafficking while noticeably softening language about threats from Beijing and Moscow.
Pence shared a Wall Street Journal analysis on X, writing: "A Trump Doctrine of Contradictions: New Security Document is notably Soft on Russia and China…It will please China and Russia but discomfit America's allies."
Trade Imbalances Over Military Threats?
The WSJ report highlighted something that struck foreign policy experts as odd: the strategy treats trade issues with China as more pressing than its military expansion. "By any measure the largest threat to the U.S. is the hostile power across the Pacific," the report noted, referring to China. "Yet the document describes commerce as 'the ultimate stakes' in the Pacific and treats trade imbalances as a bigger threat to U.S. prosperity than Beijing's military buildup."
The strategy also calls for "strategic stability" with Russia and signals a reduced global leadership role for the United States. Critics argue this approach could embolden adversaries while confusing allies who depend on American engagement abroad.
Democrats Line Up To Condemn The Strategy
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) and Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) didn't mince words in their criticism, accusing Trump of favoring authoritarian powers over democratic allies.
Schumer accused Trump of "selling out our allies in Europe and putting Russia first." Sanders said he preferred Saudi Arabia under MBS, calling it "a betrayal of American values." Kelly argued that the strategy produces "winners and losers," with Trump prioritizing autocrats, personal allies, and family interests over U.S. security.
Europe Sounds The Alarm
European officials reacted with unusual bluntness. France's junior army minister, Alice Rufo, called the strategy a "harsh wake-up call" and urged Europe to strengthen its military capabilities. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said it highlighted the need for Europe to become more militarily independent while maintaining transatlantic ties.
The backlash from both sides of the Atlantic underscores growing concerns that Trump's approach could weaken longstanding U.S. alliances and embolden authoritarian powers like Russia and Saudi Arabia.
In a separate development on Monday, President Trump announced that NVIDIA Corp. (NVDA) will be permitted to ship its H200 chips to approved customers in China and other countries.