On Thursday, May 9, the American First Policy Institute (AFPI) officially announced the release of a new book titled “An America First Approach to U.S. National Security.”
The book features peer-reviewed articles written by experts from AFPI, members of Congress, and former national security officials from the Trump administration, addressing the greatest security challenges facing the United States and the world, explicitly naming the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) as the biggest national security threat to the U.S.
Describing China under CCP rule as aspiring to surpass the U.S. as the world’s top power, the book advocates for a policy towards China that prioritizes America’s interests, urging a comprehensive decoupling between the U.S. and CCP to make Chinese policies largely irrelevant to American life.
According to the Associated Press, the new book elevates economic concerns regarding China to national security considerations, proposing a reciprocal approach of barring Chinese companies from entering the U.S. market just as the U.S. is restricted in the Chinese market.
The book also recommends stricter scrutiny of networks and technology companies owned by U.S. adversaries (especially the CCP) to ensure they are not collecting sensitive information. Additionally, it suggests prohibiting Chinese citizens from purchasing real estate within 50 miles of any U.S. government property.
Due to concerns over data privacy, the new book calls for visa restrictions on Chinese students wishing to study in the U.S., as well as banning the use of TikTok and other Chinese applications.
Keith Kellogg, former National Security Advisor and chairman of the AFPI’s Center for American Security, stated in a release related to the book that “America First foreign policy is not isolationist.” He mentioned that the book extensively discusses the Biden administration’s foreign policy errors and outlines how the next America First government should rebuild U.S. strength and global deterrence on the world stage, restoring peace and stability worldwide.
AFPI emphasizes its independence from Trump’s campaign team, while the former president’s team asserts that only policies articulated by the candidate himself are valid.
The Associated Press quoted Fred Fleitz, editor of the book, former Chief of Staff of the National Security Council during the Trump administration, and AFPI advisor, saying that he and Kellogg maintained frequent contact with the former president, seeking feedback and having detailed discussions on the topics covered in the new book. He mentioned, “We do not represent him, but I believe he would agree.”