By Sana Khan* – Modern Diplomacy
US President Donald Trump spent the week trying to project American strength on the world stage, from a forceful address to the United Nations General Assembly to a high stakes meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
US President Donald Trump spent the week trying to project American strength on the world stage, from a forceful address to the United Nations General Assembly to a high stakes meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Yet the burst of diplomacy also highlighted the limits of Trump’s ability to shape events abroad, as allies resist his demands, conflicts remain unresolved and China gains greater leverage in areas critical to the global economy.
Trump is facing growing pressure on multiple fronts. The war with Iran has driven up US energy prices and hurt his approval ratings, relations with several traditional allies have deteriorated, and China’s expanding influence in trade and technology is creating a challenge that cannot easily be addressed through tariffs or military pressure.
The setbacks come as Trump’s Republican Party approaches November’s midterm elections, which could reduce his ability to advance his agenda if Republicans lose control of either chamber of Congress.
At the same time, Trump’s return to the White House has continued to reshape the international system that the United States helped build after World War Two.
In his UN address, Trump threatened to “annihilate” Iran if it refused to reach a deal, defended his pressure campaign against OPEC member Venezuela and suggested that the United States could continue using military force to pursue its international objectives.
But his meeting with Xi two days later presented a different picture.
Xi summit delivers limited breakthrough
Xi arrived in Washington for a state visit surrounded by ceremony and diplomatic attention, but the summit produced few major breakthroughs on some of the most difficult issues between the two countries.
The most tangible outcome was an apparent two month extension of the trade truce between the world’s two largest economies, which had been scheduled to expire in November.
Trump avoided publicly highlighting major disagreements with Xi over issues including artificial intelligence, Taiwan, trade and Iran.
Chinese state media, however, reported that Xi urged Trump to oppose Taiwanese independence. Taiwan, which Beijing claims as part of China, remains one of the most sensitive issues in US China relations.
Trump’s approach also marked a contrast with the more confrontational tariff strategy he had previously pursued against Beijing.
China’s control over rare earth minerals has strengthened its position in negotiations, particularly because the materials are essential to industries ranging from advanced technology to automobiles. Beijing has already demonstrated its willingness to use its dominance in rare earths as economic leverage.
“Trump sees himself taking us back to a world where might makes right,” said Brett Bruen, a former Obama administration foreign policy adviser who now heads the Global Situation Room consultancy.
“But it’s noteworthy that he goes all wobbly when it comes to Xi Jinping and ascendant Chinese power.”
The White House rejected the suggestion that Trump’s foreign policy had stalled. A senior administration official said Trump was focused on advancing US interests and pointed to his claim that his policies had prevented Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Iran has consistently said its nuclear program is peaceful.
Iran war dominates Trump’s second term
The conflict with Iran remained the central challenge hanging over Trump’s diplomatic activity throughout the week.
Trump launched the war alongside Israel on February 28, and the conflict has continued for nearly seven months, disrupting energy supplies and spreading across parts of the region, including Yemen and the Red Sea shipping corridor.
Iran’s continued resistance despite sustained military and economic pressure has become one of the most difficult foreign policy problems of Trump’s second term.
Trump used his UN speech to defend the campaign and declare that “America is back,” portraying the United States as stronger than ever.
But the prolonged conflict has also complicated his political position at home. Rising energy prices and opposition to the war have contributed to growing divisions within his political base, creating a potential liability ahead of the midterm elections.
Trump entered his second term after several early foreign policy achievements, including a Gaza ceasefire and the capture of Venezuela’s leader. But unresolved conflicts and stalled negotiations are increasingly becoming a defining feature of his international agenda.
Allies push back against Washington
Trump’s difficulties have also exposed a growing willingness among US allies to resist his demands.
Many European and Asian partners have rejected calls to support the Iran conflict, which Trump launched without consulting them.
Several leaders used this year’s UN gathering to defend national sovereignty and multilateral cooperation, with some remarks clearly contrasting with Trump’s approach.
French President Emmanuel Macron warned against a return to what he called “the law of the jungle,” arguing that countries faced a choice between international cooperation and a system based on power and coercion.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva also criticized foreign interference in his country and rejected the idea that military force was the answer to security challenges.
“We do not need aircraft carriers patrolling our waters,” Lula said. “We need cooperation to stem the flow of weapons and money that fuel crime.”
The White House dismissed the criticism, saying Trump was focused on results rather than political posturing. The administration also argued that some foreign leaders express different views publicly from those they communicate privately to the president.
Trump faces resistance on Ukraine and Greenland
Trump’s efforts to pressure Russia and Ukraine into accepting even a limited ceasefire on energy infrastructure have also struggled to produce a breakthrough.
His approach to Greenland has faced similar constraints.
Trump highlighted an agreement with Denmark and Greenland that would expand the US military presence on the Arctic island. But the arrangement fell well short of his earlier demand that the United States should “own” Greenland and his threat to consider taking the territory by force.
The issue has been particularly sensitive because Greenland is an autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, a fellow NATO member.
Ian Bremmer, president of the Eurasia Group, said the international response to Trump had changed significantly since his return to office.
“A year ago, few countries dared cross Trump,” Bremmer wrote on X. “Now Canada, Europe, China, Iran, Russia and others are all more willing to say no.”
Trump himself appeared to acknowledge the uncertainty surrounding his influence during his UN speech.
While discussing artificial intelligence and his proposal to describe the technology as “super intelligence,” he asked whether he still possessed enough power to shape international decisions.
“Let’s see if I have any power,” Trump said. “Maybe I do and maybe I don’t. We’re going to find out pretty soon.”
The remark captured the central tension of Trump’s diplomatic week: a president determined to project American power while confronting a world increasingly willing to negotiate with Washington, resist its demands and pursue its own interests.
*News Editor at Modern Diplomacy. She is a political analyst and researcher focusing on global security, foreign policy, and power politics, driven by a passion for evidence-based analysis. Her work explores how strategic and technological shifts shape the international order.