Having had the honor of serving as both a soldier and member of Congress, I’ve seen firsthand what happens around the world when America leads with unapologetic strength and decisiveness—and what it costs us when we do not. After four years of weakness under the previous administration, President Donald Trump has returned the awe and respect owed to the “full weight and power of the United States of America,” and he is using that range of military, economic, and diplomatic capabilities to bring peace across the globe.
President Trump understands that, to demand respect on a global stage, all American capabilities must be impenetrable. He reversed years of reckless defense cuts that left our military uncertain. We now invest in cutting-edge capabilities, ensuring our troops are supported to be the most lethal in the world, not the most politically correct. We now use our unequaled military strength in limited, precise ways to protect America’s national security first and ensure security around the globe. The obliteration of both Iran’s nuclear facilities and the foreign terrorist cartels traversing the Gulf of America are clear evidence of the president's success.
In addition to rebuilding our defense, President Trump is revitalizing the economic engine that funds it. For decades, we allowed foreign countries—particularly China—to take advantage of America’s openness, steal our intellectual property, flood our markets, and undermine our manufacturing base.
By enforcing tough, targeted tariffs, President Trump is standing up for the American worker and rebalancing trade relationships that have long been one-sided. Critics said the sky would fall, but the truth is that our economy is regaining its footing. Manufacturers are coming back. American steel is being poured again. The world will no longer have to bow to communist China for the resources needed to build the future.
Foreign governments and multinational organizations like NATO now meet the security commitments they made in the past but failed to live up to. They could have done so any time during the Biden administration, but chose not to because they did not respect America or our leader, and were content to take us for granted.
In just a few short months, President Trump has reset the tone of American domestic and foreign policy alike. No longer do we apologize for our greatness. No longer do we tolerate endless wars without victory. No longer do we bankroll global institutions that don’t serve our interest.
Instead, the United States are pursuing real peace because of real strength. President Trump has now ended several long-standing conflicts across the globe, culminating in bringing home all of the living and the dead hostages from the horrific October 7 genocide, along with negotiating an end to this brutal two-year war and the exile of Hamas.
Under President Trump, we are neither policeman nor punching bag; we are the peacemaker because of obvious and undeniable strength.
President Trump understands something Washington too often forgets: America leads best when it leads boldly. Strength is not something to be ashamed of. It’s something to be wielded wisely and unapologetically. That is how you earn respect—and how you keep it.
Friday's announcement of the recipient of the Nobel peace prize revealed that the board of academics and elites, who determine the recipient, do not believe in peace through strength. But whether they recognize it or not, the world is better off thanks to President Trump.
Rep. Brian Mast represents Florida's 21st Congressional District and is a U.S. Army veteran, and serves as the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
