If we simplify foreign policy down to levels even the most dedicated Kamala Harris voter can understand, it comes in two forms: proactive and reactive. Proactive foreign policy involves being on the “before” side of events, using various levers of power or influence to control situations before they get out of hand. Meanwhile, reactive foreign policy relies on being on the “after” side, sitting back, and only acting once chaos has already (and often irreversibly) broken out.

Proactive foreign policy blows the candle out before the curtains catch fire. Reactive foreign policy calls 911 once the house is already burning down.

Now, most American foreign policy “experts” would see themselves as proactive actors. But the reality? Almost all are entirely reactive, and this is made worse when we consider that their only preemptive actions often exacerbate what inevitably becomes a foreign policy disaster.

This is one area where President Donald Trump stands alone. His form of foreign policy — certainly in the context of issues he did not inherit, such as the hostage crisis after Hamas carried out its pogrom of Oct. 7, 2023 — is entirely proactive, and there’s no better example of this than his handling of Colombia. (Colombia, the socialist dictatorship, not Columbia, the socialist dictatorship masquerading as a university.)

On Sunday, Trump announced on Truth Social that he was “just informed that two repatriation flights” stocked full of “a large number of illegal criminals” were not permitted to land in Colombia following an order given by “Socialist President Gustavo Petro.”

Previous administrations, in a world where illegal immigrant criminals were actually deported, would have either ignored this completely or released a polite statement expressing deep concern. But not Trump.

He immediately announced multiple “urgent and decisive retaliatory measures,” including an emergency 25% tariff rate that would be raised to 50% after one week, travel bans and visa revocations for Colombian government officials, and sanctions.

Trump critics went into a panic over a supposedly looming trade war, including The View’s Ana Navarro-Cardenas actually trying to argue against deporting criminals back to Colombia because “most of the flowers imported to the US come from Colombia.” Yet the Colombian president backed down immediately, agreeing to accept transports of illegal immigrants “without limitation or delay.”

While this story sparked joy among Trump fans, aided by his celebratory post on Truth Social of an AI-generated “FAFO” meme of himself, it also speaks to something far more fundamental in the world of foreign policy.

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The United States is still the biggest kid on the playground, the strongest fighter in the ring, and the guy with the biggest stick. What’s the point in being the biggest, the strongest, or the most equipped — as a result of economic, militaristic, and ideological superiority — if you’re not going to use it to your advantage?

Of course, that’s not a call to misuse this power. But when this power can be used as part of a proactive foreign policy to help achieve a popular domestic and international policy platform rather than the flaccid apology-tour antics we’ve become used to, that’s nothing to complain about. Instead, it’s something to celebrate.

Ian Haworth is a columnist, speaker, and podcast host. You can find him on Substack and follow him on X at @ighaworth.