AEI’s Kori Schake on the ‘genuine risk’ and potential upside of Trump 2.0 foreign policy

Firing Line with Margaret Hoover

Kori Schake of the American Enterprise Institute joins Margaret Hoover to discuss Donald Trump’s approach to foreign policy in his second term and how it may impact the U.S. and the world.

Schake, a defense policy expert who served in Republican and Democratic administrations, makes the case for conservative internationalism and details the flaws she sees in Trump’s “America First” worldview.

Although she has opposed Trump since 2016 and sees him as a genuine threat to constitutional order, Schake recognizes some areas–like defense spending and Middle East policy–where he might improve on existing policies and advance America’s interests.

Schake assesses Trump’s Cabinet choices for foreign policy roles, including the selection of Fox News host Pete Hegseth for secretary of defense, and she warns against politicizing the military. She defends America’s alliances and raises concerns about the influence of Elon Musk.

Support for “Firing Line with Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, Charles R. Schwab, Damon Button and Al and Kathy Hubbard. Corporate funding is provided by Stephens Inc.