Decoding ‘America First’: The origins of Trump’s foreign policy
From Lowy Institute by Lowy Institute
April 7, 2026 · 1h 3m
About this episode
Stephen Biegun discusses the origins and implications of Trump's foreign policy with Sam Roggeveen.
Stephen Biegun, former US Deputy Secretary of State and Trump administration chief North Korea negotiator, joins the Lowy Institute's International Security Program Director Sam Roggeveen at the National Press Club in Canberra for a wide-ranging conversation on American foreign policy. They discuss President Trump's worldview and its roots in the 1980s, the historical precedents behind US policy on Greenland, the war with Iran, nuclear proliferation, and the health of American democratic institutions. Biegun brings four decades of experience in government and the private sector to bear on some of the most pressing questions in international affairs today. More episodes of the Lowy Institute's podcasts are available on your favourite podcast apps, including Spotify , YouTube and Apple . Follow the Lowy Institute on our website , X , Instagram or LinkedIn. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
People in this episode
Host: Sam Roggeveen
Guest: Stephen Biegun
Topics covered
- Trump's foreign policy
- American foreign policy
- nuclear proliferation
- US policy on Greenland
- war with Iran
- American democratic institutions
Keywords
- Trump
- foreign policy
- Stephen Biegun
- Sam Roggeveen
- nuclear proliferation
- Iran
- Greenland
- American democracy
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Lowy Institute
Places: United States, Greenland, Iran, Canberra
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