In his inauguration speech, Donald Trump used the phrase “America first” to describe his approach to governance.
Trump’s speech, of course, was not the first time that we have heard this phrase. Historically, politicians and activists have used the idea of putting America first to advocate for policies ranging from strict immigration to foreign policy isolationism.
But what did the new president intend to say by borrowing this well-worn but vague phrase? What does it really mean, in economic terms, to put America first?
The history of ‘America first’
Today, what unites “America first” populists