PPI - Radically Pragmatic
  • Donate
Skip to content
  • Home
  • About
    • About Us
    • Locations
    • Careers
  • People
  • Projects
  • Our Work
  • Events
  • Donate

Our Work

How Democrats Can Rebuild Trust on National Security: Five Big Ideas to Start

  • April 21, 2025
  • Peter Juul
Download PDF

In just about three months in office, the Trump administration has inflicted grievous damage on American national security. From threats to the sovereignty and independence of America’s closest allies to launching an unprovoked global trade war and politically motivated purges of the Pentagon, Trump has left America much weaker, far lonelier in the world, and deeply insecure than at any point in living memory. And matters will only grow worse over the course of Trump’s next three-plus years in office.

Democrats will need to go big and bold to even begin to repair this damage. Here are five ideas on national security that can help Democrats to do just that:

  1. A 350-ship Navy in ten years and a 250-strong bomber force as soon as possible as the core of a strong national defense.
  2. Rebuild the non-defense foundations of national power.
  3. Lift all of Trump’s tariffs, recommit to free trade, and pursue strategic economic cooperation with America’s allies.
  4. Double down on America’s alliances in Europe and Asia.
  5. Fully commit to a free, sovereign, and independent Ukraine.

Read the full piece. 

Related Work

In the News  |  May 12, 2026

Ainsley in IPS Journal: ‘Britain is moving into a multi-party era’

  • Claire Ainsley
In the News  |  May 12, 2026

Ainsley on ABC Australia’s Radio National Breakfast: More than 80 Labour MPs are now calling for the British Prime Minister to resign

  • Claire Ainsley
Op-Ed  |  May 7, 2026

Jacoby for Washington Monthly: Trump Leaves Ukraine’s Future to Europe

  • Tamar Jacoby
In the News  |  May 1, 2026

Jacoby on Background Briefing: A Report From Kyiv on Trump Checking in With the Boss Yesterday in His Hour and Half Phone Call With Putin

  • Tamar Jacoby
In the News  |  April 30, 2026

Jacoby on CNN: The Ongoing Conflict in Ukraine

  • Tamar Jacoby
Publication  |  April 28, 2026

Partnering with Ukraine: Rearming Europe Through Defence Industrial Cooperation

  • Tamar Jacoby
  • Never miss an update:

  • Subscribe to our newsletter
PPI Logo
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook
  • Donate
  • Careers
  • © 2026 Progressive Policy Institute. All Rights Reserved.
  • |
  • Privacy Policy
  • |
  • Privacy Settings