# Harris’s foreign policy must differ from Biden’s — even if it means copying Trump - Link: https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/2024/10/harriss-foreign-policy-must-differ-from-bidens-even-if-it-means-copying-trump/ - Published: 2024-10-23T22:30:55-04:00 - Author: Lucas Robinson By [Lucas Robinson](https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/about/team/lucas-robinson/), Senior Research Associate _This article appeared in_ [The Hill](https://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/4946681-harris-foreign-policy-trump/) _on October 23, 2024_ --- [Kamala Harris ](https://thehill.com/people/kamala-harris/)has [rallied](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa7qRCB9zqQ) a coalition as broad as it is unusual: pop stars, elder statesmen and even some high-profile [Republican](https://static01.nyt.com/newsgraphics/documenttools/38a5a90bef9711ef/a1c00612-full.pdf) national security officials. They’re united by fear of [Donald Trump’s ](https://thehill.com/people/donald-trump/) assault on democracy and “America First” foreign policy.  But Harris should be wary. Embracing establishment foreign policy ideas is a Faustian bargain. The Harris ticket makes clear [the distinctions](https://youtu.be/fpu1QEB03xA?si=jB4oE-8UUzKVCtci) between the two candidates’ worldviews. Harris offers a forward-looking vision for the country; Trump [peddles a declinist](https://time.com/7015394/american-exceptionalism-kamala-harris-trump/) narrative. Harris supports America’s role in upholding international norms; Trump flouts the rules-based order. Harris [affirms America’s commitment to allies](https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2024-02-16/harris-repudiates-trump-worldview-and-says-the-us-wont-back-down-on-ukraines-defense); Trump threatens [to abandon them](https://www.npr.org/2024/02/11/1230658309/trump-would-encourage-russia-to-attack-nato-allies-who-dont-pay-bills). Harris dismisses Ukraine negotiations as appeasement; Trump promises to end the Ukraine War immediately. This stark contrast has [won over](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/09/10/harris-foreign-policy/) former Reps. [Liz Cheney ](https://thehill.com/people/liz-cheney/)(R-Wyo.) and [Adam Kinzinger ](https://thehill.com/people/adam-kinzinger/)( R-IIl). But retreating to the hawkish foreign policy orthodoxies these former lawmakers espouse isn’t the answer. It could even become a liability come November. … _Read more of Lucas’s article in _[The Hill](https://thehill.com/opinion/national-security/4946681-harris-foreign-policy-trump/) --- [⌊Lucas Robinson.⌉⌊Lucas Robinson.⌉[ **Written by [Lucas Robinson](https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/about/team/lucas-robinson/)** Lucas Robinson is a senior research associate and digital media manager at the Institute for Global Affairs. * [Twitter](https://twitter.com/L_W_Robinson) * [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucas-robinson-067301138/) ### **More from 󠀁[Lucas](https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/by-author/lucas-robinson/)󠁿** [](https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/2026/11/iran-war-poll-pre-election/) [Public Opinion](https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/by-subject/public-opinion/) ### 󠀁[Heading Into the Midterms, Americans Chose Prices Over the War, More Than Two to One](https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/2026/11/iran-war-poll-pre-election/)󠁿 [⌊A hand-painted American flag reading "God Bless America" in an ornate frame, propped among empty gilded frames in a gallery window.⌉](https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/2026/09/war-president-iran-trap-spring-us-poll/) [Public Opinion](https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/by-subject/public-opinion/) ### 󠀁[WAR PRESIDENT: THE IRAN TRAP](https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/2026/09/war-president-iran-trap-spring-us-poll/)󠁿 [⌊A view shows a microphone next to the Presidential seal on the roof of the Oval Office, during a press conference with US President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, at the White House in Washington, DC, US, May 30, 2025.⌉](https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/2026/09/war-president-iran-trap-info-spring-us-poll/) [Public Opinion](https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/by-subject/public-opinion/) ### 󠀁[Information War](https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/2026/09/war-president-iran-trap-info-spring-us-poll/)󠁿 [⌊US President Donald Trump looks on as he meets with Bahrain's Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa (not pictured), in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, US, July 16, 2025.⌉](https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/2026/09/war-president-iran-trap-fatigue-spring-us-poll/) [Public Opinion](https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/by-subject/public-opinion/) ### 󠀁[War Fatigue](https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/2026/09/war-president-iran-trap-fatigue-spring-us-poll/)󠁿 [](https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/2026/05/poll-war-president/) [Public Opinion](https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/by-subject/public-opinion/) ### 󠀁[WAR PRESIDENT](https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/2026/05/poll-war-president/)󠁿 [⌊AI-generated art in ornate gold frames, picturing fictionalized depictions of US president Donald Trump in religious, heroic, and royal-themed scenes.⌉](https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/2025/11/reckless-peacemaker-american-views-trump-foreign-policy/) [Public Opinion](https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/by-subject/public-opinion/) ### 󠀁[RECKLESS PEACEMAKER?](https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/2025/11/reckless-peacemaker-american-views-trump-foreign-policy/)󠁿 [⌊Group of multinational NATO soldiers in camouflage uniforms representing allied military cooperation and international security⌉](https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/2025/06/western-europeans-are-hedging-on-a-post-u-s-nato/) [Security](https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/by-subject/security/) ### 󠀁[Western Europeans Are Hedging on a Post-US NATO](https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/2025/06/western-europeans-are-hedging-on-a-post-u-s-nato/)󠁿 [](https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/2025/06/ruptures-and-new-realities-european-security-nato-trump/) [Public Opinion](https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/by-subject/public-opinion/) ### 󠀁[RUPTURES AND NEW REALITIES](https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/2025/06/ruptures-and-new-realities-european-security-nato-trump/)󠁿 [⌊Pop-art collage featuring Donald Trump, Stephen Miller, Marco Rubio, and Michael Waltz with the US presidential seal⌉](https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/2025/05/mapping-the-trump-47-administration-nsc-key-figures-and-leaders/) [Politics & Government](https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/by-subject/politics-government/) ### 󠀁[WHO’S WHO ON TRUMP’S NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL?](https://instituteforglobalaffairs.org/2025/05/mapping-the-trump-47-administration-nsc-key-figures-and-leaders/)󠁿