During the 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump waged a rhetorical assault against the United States’ international legal commitments. Trump repeatedly claimed that he would tear up many international treaties—including the Iran Nuclear deal and all trade deals—and he also said he would adopt policies that would clearly violate other agreements—like promising to torture the families of terrorists. If Trump actually followed through on these promises, it would constitute a major break in the United States’ approach to international law. Which is why it’s worth asking at the end of his first 100 days: has Donald Trump’s promised assault on international law materialized?

I. Participation in International Institutions

Trump continues to say he will reduce the United States’ participation in international institutions. Two specific developments are worth noting. First, Trump’s budget proposal includes large cuts in America’s funding of international institutions. Specifically, the so called “skinny budget” released by the Trump administration calls for a 28% reduction in funding to international organizations. Since the proposal spares some defense-related spending—including funds to NATO and security assistant to Israel—the United Nations, OECD, and other organizations may suffer substantially larger cuts than 28%. Second, Trump has de-emphasized the State Department in a number of ways that could hamper the United States’ capacity for diplomacy and participation in international organizations. More concretely, failing to fill senior posts within the department and calling for dramatic cuts in the State Department’s budget.

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