The early days of Trump’s second term easily refuted the notion that Trump is all bark and no bite when it comes to foreign policy. When Donald Trump talks about using the military to seize the Panama Canal or Greenland, it’s easy to dismiss his rhetoric as improvisations by a man who thrives on shock value. However, Trump’s brand of foreign policy is no joke, and it demands our unwavering attention and action.

Please sign up for our Action Alerts to quickly take action in response to Trump’s threats to Peace.

Day One: A Flurry of Harmful Executive Orders

In just one day, President Trump took drastic steps that will have far-reaching consequences for millions of people. While there have been many other harmful actions since then it’s worth studying these day-one actions to get an idea of the template of the Trump agenda on peace and justice issues:

• State of Emergency at the Border: Trump declared a state of emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border, paving the way for increased militarization and harsh immigration enforcement. The order allows for involuntary reserve mobilization on the scale of the Afghanistan and Iraq wars.
• Suspending Refugee Status: Flights of Afghan refugees were canceled as Trump suspended refugee status, leaving thousands in dangerous limbo. One women’s rights activist told NPR “If I go back to Afghanistan, I will be prosecuted or even be killed by the Taliban.”
• Terminating Parole Programs: Trump ordered an end to humanitarian parole programs including those for refugees fleeing Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. The order empowers the administration officials to quickly remove these refugees, many of whom are victims of war or political oppression.
• Sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC): Trump reimposed sanctions on the ICC, reversing Biden’s earlier decision to cooperate with the court. This move undermines global accountability for war crimes and human rights abuses.
• Reversing Sanctions on Violent Israeli Settlers: In a clear signal of support for Israeli human rights violations, Trump reversed Biden’s sanctions on violent Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
• Ending Birthright Citizenship: Most dramatically and disruptively, Trump signed an order attempting to end birthright citizenship, a move widely seen as racist and unconstitutional.

In the days following, there has been a steady stream of decisions harming millions of people across the globe. Peace Action is raising the alarm bells about these decisions while mobilizing our members through our Trump Watch: Defending Peace, Justice, and Democracy campaign to hold the administration accountable for policies that harm vulnerable communities and undermine progress in humanitarian aid and civilian protection.

Why “Trump Watch: Defending Peace, Justice, and Democracy” Matters

The Trump Watch: Defending Peace, Justice, and Democracy campaign is not just about reacting to harmful policies—it’s about proactively advocating for a future based on human rights, peace, and justice. Peace Action aims to grow a broad constituency for peace and justice. We will mobilize activists, policymakers, and the public to push back against regressive actions. We are witnessing an authoritarian takeover of the federal government, often using unconstitutional tools that ignore the will of other branches of government. Peace Action will be pressuring Democrats and any anti-authoritarian Republicans to use every tool they can to block this takeover. We will be mobilizing the public to pressure elected officials to block the Trump agenda by bringing “business as usual” in Congress to a halt using procedural tools available. Here are some of the critical issues the campaign will be addressing:

1. Freeze on Foreign Aid: Immediate Harm to Vulnerable Populations

On January 25, 2025, the Trump administration announced an immediate freeze on all foreign aid. U.S. aid is critical to the global humanitarian system that has been developed over the last 80 years. This decision is a radical attack on a system that has saved thousands of lives. This decision has had catastrophic consequences for countries facing famine, disease, and natural disasters. After a backlash, Secretary of State Rubio claimed that “life-saving aid” would be exempt from the freeze but aid workers on the ground say that isn’t true.

As part of this effort to end U.S. humanitarian aid programs Elon Musk basically staged what Democratic lawmakers called an “illegal takeover” at USAID. Musk said that it was time for USAID to “die” and that he had “put it in the wood chipper”, calling it “a viper’s nest of radical-left Marxists who hate America”. Musk and Rubio quickly furloughed staff, shut the offices, and significantly reduced USAID’s operations, effectively shutting down many of its programs. This decision has far-reaching implications for global development and humanitarian efforts. At the same time, the Trump administration is moving on foreign aid as a pilot program in their efforts to dismantle social programs since foreign aid has less of a domestic political base. We need to be that political base by mobilizing to support those without a voice.

2. Threats to Free Speech and Protest Rights

On January 29, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at combating antisemitism. While the stated goal of addressing antisemitism is important, the order has raised significant concerns about its potential to suppress free speech and protest rights, particularly for those advocating for Palestinian human rights. In addition, The Trump administration is opening new investigations into allegations of antisemitism at five U.S. universities including Columbia and the University of California, Berkeley. In addition, there have recently been bills in Congress that would allow the administration to go after nonprofits that fight for human rights. We’ll also be working to prevent the use of the U.S. military inside the United States to enforce unjust policies or suppress protest.

3. Border Militarization and “Mass Deportation”

We must stand in solidarity with vulnerable communities who are in Trump’s metaphorical—or, God forbid, literal—crosshairs. From his threats of mass deportation to the further militarization of the U.S. border, Trump’s policies strike at the heart of who we are as a nation. Immigration and border issues are not just domestic concerns; they are foreign policy issues that reflect our values and our commitment to human dignity. While the criminalization and militarization of immigration policy have occurred under the administrations of both parties, the immigrants’ rights community is right to be alarmed by this administration’s extreme and draconian proposals. The administration’s plans include

There are many, many other issues that Trump will propose to harm peace and security. At the same time, this administration is unpredictable and the status of the issues mentioned above can change quickly. This short summary can only cover some of the key issues at the time this was written.

Sign up for our Peace Action Alerts to quickly take action in response to Trump’s threats to Peace!

A Vision for a Better Future

The Trump Watch: Defending Peace, Justice, and Democracy campaign is about more than opposing Trump’s harmful policies—it’s also a vision for a better future. It’s a reminder that peace and justice are not abstract ideals but tangible goals that require sustained effort and commitment. By opposing harmful policies and advocating for positive change, we can build a constituency pushing for a world where human rights are respected, conflicts are resolved peacefully, and all people can live with dignity and hope.

At Peace Action we believe what Martin Luther King famously said: “Peace is not the absence of conflict, but the presence of justice.” Let’s stand together to make that vision a reality.