America First – from Opposition to Endorsement

Abstract

This article provides a legal analysis of the America First doctrine in U.S. foreign policy. The comparison of the actions of Franklin D. Roosevelt and Donald Trump reveals their different modes of exercising the constitutional powers of the U.S. President. It highlights the tensions between the executive, legislative, and even judicial branches in conducting international policy and complying with broadly understood international law. Despite different historical contexts, both presidents made use of the flexibility offered by the U.S. Constitution. America First is presented as a slogan that also carries significant legal implications. The analysis emphasizes that shaping foreign policy depends not only on ideology, but – above all – on the interpretation of law.