What Does “America First” Really Mean?

The Subgroup Defining Today’s Republicans

America First:

Since the founding of the United States, countless ideologies have challenged the principles of our democratic republic, the system designed to preserve the rights and liberties of its citizens. From the colonial era to the industrial revolution, through two world wars, the Cold War, and into the modern age of global conflict and technological warfare, familiar threats to freedom have continued to appear in new forms.

The Reinstatement of America First:

In recent years, the Republican Party has not invented but rather revived an idea, one rooted in the traditions of the Western world, seeking to reassert American sovereignty and self-determination. The America First movement emphasizes the protection of national interests, the prioritization of citizens’ rights, and the belief that freedom should be a foundational requirement of governance, not a privilege to be earned.

At its core, the movement represents a shift away from foreign entanglements and economic exploitation, from wars driven by profit or ideology, toward a renewed focus on strengthening the American nation: its people, its industries, and its ideals.

This philosophy echoes the wisdom of our first president: wisdom that should be taught in classrooms throughout our great country. In his Farewell Address, George Washington warned against many of the same challenges we face today, urging Americans to “observe good faith and justice towards all nations; cultivate peace and harmony with all,” and reminding us that “it is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world.” His counsel continues to resonate, reflecting the enduring tension between global engagement and national preservation, a balance the America First movement seeks once again to define.

What American First Stands For:

An America First supporter, at their core, embraces a moderate yet deeply principled ideology, one committed to preserving the foundational values woven into our nation by the Founding Fathers and inspired by the ideals of the Western world. It is an outlook rooted in sovereignty, self-reliance, and the belief that America’s strength begins at home.

To stand for America First is not to oppose the world, but to prioritize the well-being of the American people. It means questioning policies that send billions overseas while citizens at home shoulder heavy tax burdens, face economic uncertainty, and watch their communities struggle. It means rejecting the notion of elevating foreign leaders or causes above the interests of our own nation.

At its heart, America First is about reinvestment in our industries, our workers, our families, and our shared values. It is the belief that by nurturing the health and prosperity of our own country, we create a generational legacy of freedom, opportunity, and culture that will endure long after us.

Reflection:

Does today’s Republican Party represent this?

Does giving foreign aid to Israel help America? If so, what are our limits?

Do President Trump and JD Vance institute these practices?