October 2026
2.8 Trump foreign policy as "might makes right"
- Tariffs: "Liberation Day," EO 14257 (2 Apr 2025), used IEEPA emergency powers (Federal Register) [V]. Correction: on 20 Feb 2026 the Supreme Court ruled 6–3 in Learning Resources, Inc. v. Trump that IEEPA does not authorize tariffs, striking down the "reciprocal" and "fentanyl" tariffs (opinion, CRS) [V-s]. Refunds run through CBP's CAPE process and litigation in the Court of International Trade continues (CBP, SCOTUSblog) [V-s]. This is a significant institutional check on "might makes right."
- ICC: EO 14203 (6 Feb 2025) cites the "baseless arrest warrants targeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu" (Federal Register). Prosecutor Khan was placed on the SDN sanctions list on 13 Feb (OFAC). State then sanctioned four judges (State) and later more, eight in total by summary count [V].
- Iran: Operation Midnight Hammer, 22 June 2025, struck Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan with B-2s, 14 GBU-57 bombs and Tomahawks (AP, BBC) [V].
- Venezuela: a US operation captured Maduro on 3 Jan 2026 (AP) [V].
- Greenland:
- The 22 Sept 2026 deal expands Pituffik, adds two new bases and Golden Dome, and grants no mining rights. Greenland's 2021 ban on new oil exploration still stands (Al Jazeera, CNN) [V].
- Panama force not ruled out, and "51st state" remarks about Canada (AP) [V].
- Reading: classic great-power coercion over chokepoints, bases, energy and minerals. Prophecy isn't needed to explain it, but the Israel file (ICC, settlements) is where evangelical belief and policy meet.