National Security in President Trump’s Second Term: Deconstruction and Reframing of a Traditional Concept

Abstract

Abstract: National Security in President Trump’s Second Term: Deconstruction and Reframing of a Traditional Concept – This Article analyses how Trump’s second term is reshaping the meaning and function of US national security. After retracing the historical expansion of the concept from military defence to broader political, economic and social concerns, the Author focuses on the 2025 National Security Strategy and argues that Trump is turning security into a general framework of government, grounded in “America First” and national interest. The research identifies sovereignism, protectionism, deregulation, cultural nationalism and neo-imperial ambition as the defining elements of this approach, showing how it strengthens executive power and risks undermining liberal constitutional democracy.

Keywords: Checks and balances; Democracy; National security; Trump; The United States