"Trump’s Playbook: Conquest Over Diplomacy"

The Department of Defense is now being directed to prioritize military force over diplomacy, reinforcing Trump’s admiration for authoritarian rulers who govern through strength; rather than consensus.

The U.S. has entered a new era of foreign policy, one that rewards aggression and undermines long-standing alliances. The most recent controversy stems from Hegseth’s shocking suggestion that Ukraine should cede territory to Russia, a proposal that has drawn sharp rebuke from Republican Representative Don Bacon of Nebraska. Bacon, one of the few remaining traditional conservatives, warned that rewarding an invader only invites more invasions. It’s a simple truth that the new Trump administration appears willing to ignore.

Hegseth’s remarks are not just off-the-cuff musings; they reflect a broader ideological shift within the Trump White House. If the U.S. signals that territorial conquest is acceptable, the implications are catastrophic. It emboldens China to accelerate plans for Taiwan, encourages North Korea to test its limits with South Korea, and even invites questions about how America itself might use this doctrine to justify its own expansionism. If the U.S. now condones land grabs, why stop at influencing foreign territories? Why not take strategic regions like Panama, Greenland, or even move on Gaza, Mexico and Canada under the guise of national security?

This is not just conjecture; Trump has flirted with such ideas before. His well-documented musings about purchasing Greenland were dismissed as a joke, but in light of this new administration’s policies, they demand a second look. Under Hegseth’s leadership, the Department of Defense is now being directed to prioritize military force over diplomacy, reinforcing Trump’s admiration for authoritarian rulers who govern through strength; rather than consensus. If Russia can take what it wants by force, why can’t the United States?

Bacon’s warning is stark but necessary. The doctrine of appeasement and reward for aggression threatens global stability and America’s moral authority. By normalizing the seizure of sovereign land, Trump and Hegseth open the floodgates for chaos. China has already intensified its maneuvers near Taiwan, interpreting America’s stance as an invitation rather than a deterrent. In the Middle East, a weakened stance could lead to unilateral moves on Gaza or other disputed regions. Meanwhile, adversaries like Iran and North Korea are watching closely, waiting for their own opportunity to exploit this seismic shift in U.S. policy.

The real danger, however, isn’t just external. A government willing to reward aggression abroad is a government willing to embrace it at home. Trump has already demonstrated his willingness to use force against his own citizens, and with a second term, his ambitions have only grown. If he believes might makes right, how long before that principle is applied domestically—to dissenters, political opponents, or entire populations deemed unworthy of protection?

This is the ideology of conquest, not governance. It’s a reckless, short-sighted approach that endangers not just America’s place in the world but the very fabric of its democracy. Bacon’s warning should be a wake-up call to every American who believes in the rule of law, national sovereignty, and the principles that have guided U.S. foreign policy for decades. If we allow this administration to continue down this path unchecked, the world won’t just be less stable—it will be fundamentally transformed, and not for the better.