U.S. Soft Power After Trump
Soft power is a component of every state’s foreign policy. Understood as a force of attraction rather than coercion, it allows states to achieve their goals cheaply and in ways that benefit multiple parties. Since 2025, Trump has sought to destroy American soft power and largely succeeded. With institutions such as USAID and Voice of America hollowed out or eliminated, there will be a need for bold thinking after Trump leaves the scene, to reimagine soft power in the coming era. This Task Force will think through what forms American soft power should take after Trump.
