Max Boot Warns of America’s Retreat from Global Leadership
JUDJ-Prepared Summary from July 16, 2025 | Russia’s War on Ukraine: Trump, Putin, Zelensky, and the Search for Peace. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the speaker.
In a recent America at a Crossroads discussion, historian and foreign policy expert Max Boot sounded the alarm about the systematic erosion of America’s soft power under former President Donald Trump. A senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and columnist for The Washington Post, Boot focused on the critical—but often overlooked—tools of global influence: foreign aid, diplomacy, public broadcasting, and the agencies that coordinate them. His message was stark: America’s ability to project its values and leadership abroad is being dismantled from within.
Cutting Aid, Crippling Influence
Boot outlined how the Trump administration has gutted programs central to America’s global reach. These include USAID, which delivers humanitarian relief and development aid; PEPFAR, the lifesaving global HIV/AIDS initiative started by President George W. Bush; and the State Department, where diplomatic capacity has been significantly reduced.
Once-bipartisan institutions like the National Endowment for Democracy and Voice of America have also come under fire. Boot noted that these programs have long been essential in promoting democratic values and providing uncensored news to people living under authoritarian regimes—from China and Iran to North Korea and Russia. Efforts to defund them, he warned, are not just shortsighted—they’re dangerous.
“These programs cost very little compared to the federal budget,” Boot said, “but they’re among our most effective tools for promoting stability, freedom, and goodwill abroad.”
Marco Rubio’s Turnaround
One of the most jarring developments, Boot noted, is the reversal by leaders who once championed soft power. Senator Marco Rubio, for example, was an outspoken supporter of foreign aid and democracy promotion during his presidential campaign. Now, as Trump’s Secretary of State and National Security Advisor—a controversial dual role—Rubio has helped scale back the very programs he once defended.
Boot called it a betrayal of both principle and strategic wisdom. “I would never have imagined that Marco Rubio of all people would be presiding over the destruction of American soft power,” he said.
The Hidden Cost of Weakening Coordination
Beyond budget cuts, Boot emphasized the critical damage being done to coordination and strategy. The National Security Council (NSC), responsible for aligning U.S. foreign policy across agencies, has been hollowed out—its staff cut by more than half. Trump’s decision to merge the NSC role with the Secretary of State’s job has left little capacity for meaningful coordination.
Boot cited recent foreign policy missteps—such as an unexplained pause in aid to Ukraine by the Pentagon, which reportedly caught even Trump off guard—as evidence of a broken process. “This is exactly the kind of dysfunction the NSC is supposed to prevent,” Boot said.
Soft Power Matters More Than Ever
Boot argued forcefully that America’s real power lies not just in its military might but in its ability to inspire, assist, and lead. Programs that provide food, medicine, and truthful information save lives—but they also build alliances and strengthen U.S. credibility.
“These tools are essential not just for humanitarian reasons,” Boot said, “but because they are how we compete with authoritarian regimes in the battle for global influence.”
He rejected the notion that eliminating soft power programs is fiscally responsible. The savings are negligible, he said, especially when compared to the cost of defense—and the price of instability. “We’re spending trillions on tax breaks and defense contracts,” Boot noted. “To slash a few million from programs that promote democracy and prevent conflict is penny wise and pound foolish.”
A Call to Restore America’s Global Voice
Boot’s warning was clear: if the U.S. continues down this path, it risks ceding ground to adversaries like China and Russia, who are eager to fill the vacuum. Rebuilding America’s foreign policy capacity—especially its soft power infrastructure—must be a top priority for future leadership.
“America is at its best when we stand for our values,” Boot concluded. “Now is the time to reclaim that role before it’s too late.”
About America at a Crossroads
Since April 2020, America at a Crossroads has produced weekly virtual programs on topics related to the preservation of our democracy, voting rights, freedom of the press, and a wide array of civil rights, including abortion rights, free speech, and free press. America at a Crossroads is a project of Jews United for Democracy & Justice.