Trump, Putin, and the Fragile Global Order: Views from David Ignatius
JUDJ-Prepared Summary from May 28, 2025 | Behind the Headlines: America’s Role in a Changing World. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of the speaker.
In a recent America at a Crossroads discussion, veteran journalist and foreign policy columnist David Ignatius offered a wide-ranging analysis of America’s shifting role on the world stage. In conversation with longtime NPR host Larry Mantle, Ignatius explored the legal, diplomatic, and strategic challenges posed by Donald Trump’s second bid for the presidency—especially as they relate to Russia’s war on Ukraine, authoritarianism, and the erosion of U.S. soft power.
Legal and Market Pushback on Trump’s Tariffs
The interview opened with breaking news: a federal trade court had blocked Trump’s sweeping use of emergency powers to impose tariffs, ruling the former president had exceeded his authority under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act. While Ignatius welcomed judicial oversight, he emphasized that it wasn’t the courts alone that forced Trump to scale back. “It’s the world’s reaction and the reaction of financial market traders that has had the decisive impact,” Ignatius noted. He warned that the bond markets, in particular, were showing signs of “weariness of anything branded United States of America”—a troubling shift that underscores diminished global confidence.
Misjudging Putin and the Cost of Naiveté
Ignatius was especially critical of Trump’s attempt to court Vladimir Putin during an ongoing war in Ukraine. After Trump’s outreach to the Russian leader, who was recently indicted by the International Criminal Court, Ignatius observed that Trump appeared surprised when Putin showed no interest in a ceasefire. “He just misunderstood how important this war is to Putin,” Ignatius said. “Putin has disrespected Trump.”
Rather than ending the conflict, Trump’s overture—what Ignatius described as a “unilateral pardon”—likely emboldened Russia’s leader. Trump’s instinct to “end the bloodbath” was well-intentioned, Ignatius conceded, but naïve. In reality, he argued, it would take significantly more pressure—economic and military—to shift Putin’s calculus.
What Would Make a Difference
Ignatius proposed a hypothetical course of action that could shift the war’s trajectory: a strong, unequivocal message from Trump that included harsher sanctions, increased arms and intelligence for Ukraine, and expanded defense support. “If he did that,” Ignatius said, “it would make Putin realize that he is in a long war that’s going to cost him more than he imagined.”
He also emphasized the strategic necessity of continuing real-time intelligence support, which gives Ukrainians advance warning of missile attacks and battlefield threats. Without it, Ignatius warned, “Ukraine is blind.”
Strategic Pessimism and Ukraine’s Sobering Outlook
Speaking about his recent visit to Kyiv, Ignatius urged Ukrainian leaders to adopt “strategic pessimism”—a mindset that assumes the worst: that negotiations will fail, Trump may walk away, and Russia will continue its assault. He likened the situation to South Korea’s acceptance of a divided nation after the Korean War, suggesting Ukraine may eventually have to settle for de facto loss of some territory in exchange for survival and Western integration.
Eroding U.S. Soft Power and the Global Brand
As the conversation broadened, Ignatius expressed concern about how Trump’s approach to foreign policy, immigration, and international institutions has damaged America’s credibility. Foreign students, once eager to study and innovate in the U.S., now feel unwelcome. “We forget just how precious the country’s reputation for freedom, openness, and rule of law really is,” he said.
He argued that the erosion of soft power—America’s influence built on values and alliances—has created a vacuum increasingly filled by adversaries like Russia and China.
A Call to Vigilance
In closing, Ignatius acknowledged the deep challenges facing American democracy and international leadership. But he expressed hope in the civic engagement and thoughtful discourse that events like America at a Crossroads promote. “These are issues of that consequence,” he said. “The institutions and people who stand up—we’ll be grateful for them.”
As the 2024 election looms, Ignatius’s insights serve as a timely reminder: the next administration’s approach to global affairs will have far-reaching consequences not just for Ukraine or the Middle East, but for the strength and stability of the democratic world order.
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.