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Isolationism Is an Embarrassment to American Strength

Dmitri Bolt
Dmitri Bolt  |  March 02, 2026 5:30 PM

This debate should be over.

President Trump should have proved by now to most people that if done properly, American intervention abroad is a force for good in the world. A force capable of raining hell, achieving objectives, and leaving victorious without engaging in a decades-long regime change war. However, hardline isolationists are still fearmongering among the American public. 

Tucker Carlson, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Thomas Massie, Candace Owens, and many other "conservative" commentators continue to claim that President Trump is leading America into yet another forever war, risking massive American casualties, potentially sparking World War III, and proving, in their view, that the United States is either weak or beholden to Israel. 

But this is no longer the case. I am glad each of these commentators learned their lesson from the early 2000's, but those standards simply don't apply to President Trump and his foreign policy.

The same people who believed that the solution to our border issues was reliant on electing a different president are somehow incapable of believing the same when it comes to foreign policy.

But let's address their points.

Is Operation Epic Fury America First? Absolutely, unless you think letting the United States be bullied by foreign adversaries is America First. For years, the U.S. has been pushed around by the Middle East, by China, by Russia, and until recently, by the United Nations, the European Union, and even NATO. The United States is the dominant power in the world, and any erosion of that status is a downgrade, and by definition, not America First. 

Is this leading America into a forever war? Absolutely not. Yet political commentators seem determined to turn every foreign intervention into a replay of the Iraq War, refusing to take in new facts or adjust their assumptions. Trump isn’t fighting to negotiate endlessly, the way past administrations often did. He’s fighting to win, and allowing American forces to do what’s necessary to achieve victory. He has clear standards for success, and he has shown no willingness to settle for less. On top of that, several Middle Eastern nations are backing this operation and helping defend American assets in the region. That support significantly increases the likelihood of success. And there are no boots on the ground. The future of Iran ultimately rests with the Iranian people; the United States is simply opening the door.

What about the president’s promise of no new wars? This isn’t a war in the traditional sense. I see a decisive strike, a targeted effort to neutralize threats without any prolonged conflicts. Iran has barely mounted a counterattack, instead lashing out at foreign nations that host U.S. bases. They haven’t focused solely on our forces; missiles and drones have targeted civilian infrastructure across the region. So again, what war is there?

The president also promised peace through strength. After decades of failed foreign policy, peace doesn’t come from letting cards fall where they may. It comes from decisive action to right the wrongs of that past. Heads need to roll, and Operation Epic Fury is reasserting U.S. military dominance, not just in the Middle East, but in the eyes of China and Russia as well. That is peace through strength, and that is putting America First.

And finally, that this operation will bring about World War III. I heard the same thing for Operation Midnight Hammer last summer, the same for the 12-Day War in Iran. WWIII with a paper tiger? Russia hasn't lifted a finger to support the Iranians, nor has China. Why? Because they know Iran is a lost cause.

A host from the podcast Triggernometry said it best, writing on X:

It's the third time WW3 has broken out in a year and as many smart people have predicted we're all going to die. Like the last two times. It's been a pleasure knowing you all and I hope to see you in the afterlife. Or just back here tomorrow reading the same panic slop.

A day later, he wrote:

Day 2 of WW3 has been absolutely brutal so far. I've had one more coffee than usual and my screen time is off the charts. I rate our chances of surviving another day at 50/50. See you back here tomorrow for more panic slop updates.

Isolationism from the right is an embarrassment to the heritage of the United States following World War II. We should expect this stupidity from the left, not from our own. American strength abroad is just as necessary to our wellbeing as good domestic policy. A strong America, willing to use her capabilities in the face of evil, maintains our position of leadership in the world, and therefore our leverage. 

We do not maintain our status as hegemon by our mere existence. We do it through our actions, our strength, our resolve, and our willingness to shoulder the burdens that come with freedom. The world is safer when America leads. Our allies depend on our consistency, our adversaries respect our power, and both are guided by the moral compass that has defined American influence for generations. 

When we retreat, chaos fills the void, and evil regimes grow bolder. Pretending that oceans protect us from global disorder is not good policy; it is naïveté. To abandon our global responsibilities is to dishonor the sacrifices of those who secured peace through strength before us. America’s leadership is not a form of charity; it is strategy that maintains our rightful place, leading the world into a better future. 

It preserves the order that allows liberty to flourish not only at home but also abroad. The moment we forget that truth, we forfeit not only our influence, but our identity as Americans