AMERICA FIRST: President Trump’s 30-minute speech outlining his congressionally-mandated national security strategy was an enthusiastic enunciation of his “America first” policy that he campaigned on and implemented upon his inauguration. “With every decision and every action, we are now putting America first. We are rebuilding our nation, our confidence and our standing in the world,” Trump said yesterday at the Ronald Reagan building. The speech was more reflective than predictive, cataloging the ways in which Trump argues he is reasserting U.S. leadership on the international stage. “The entire world has heard the news and has already seen the signs. America is coming back and America is coming back strong,” Trump said. “We will stand up for ourselves and we will stand up for our country like we have never stood up before.”
WRITTEN FOR TRUMP, NOT BY TRUMP: It’s worth repeating that the 68-page document was written by the National Security Council staff to translate the president’s public pronouncements into a formal strategy document, not the other way around. “Remember, this document specifically is based on his words. It’s based on his campaign speeches and his major speeches this year,” White House national security spokesman Michael Anton told CNN yesterday. And because of that Anton said he can’t say for sure whether the president read the whole thing. “I can’t say that he’s read every line and every word. He certainly had the document … throughout the process and has been briefed on it,” Anton said.
