The Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s minority members have accused the Trump administration of actively undermining America’s global influence by allowing China to rise as a dominant power. They argue that the White House’s policies, including the reduction of international aid and the criticism of prominent research universities, are diluting America’s soft power and creating an opening for China to expand its international influence.
According to the Democrats, the Trump administration’s approach has been detrimental to U.S. strategic interests, as it is perceived to be diminishing America’s ability to project its values and influence on a global scale. The committee members suggest that by weakening American institutions and reducing aid, the Trump administration is inadvertently giving China a platform to assert its influence and fill the gaps left by the U.S. in international affairs.