When President Trump’s critics complain about “isolationism” or “abdication of America’s global leadership,” it is usually best to roll one’s eyes. They gripe about Trump withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord, they worry he won’t maintain the United States’ role as global policeman, and they fret about Trump perhaps giving offense to German Chancellor Angela Merkel by asking her to spend more on defense.

Often, these complaints are about Trump, under the banner of “America First,” well, putting America first in his foreign policy, as he promised in his election campaign. But that turns out to be his job. U.S. foreign policy ought to be directed at advancing American interests, and the nation’s manpower and money ought to be spent overseas only on those matters that benefit us.