‘America first’ doesn’t mean the same thing as ‘global leadership’

Published June 5, 2017 2:53pm ET



Former Secretary of State John Kerry, who lost the presidential election in 2004 in part because he spoke of submitting U.S. actions to a “global test,” is criticizing President Trump for his withdrawal from the Paris climate agreement — and he’s trying to use Trump’s “America first” idea to do so.

“The President who promised ‘America First’ has taken a self-destructive step that puts our nation last,” Kerry wrote on Facebook. “This is an unprecedented forfeiture of American leadership which will cost us influence, cost us jobs, and invite other countries to walk away from solving humanity’s most existential crisis.”

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