How the Trump Administration is Using Art to Redefine American Diplomacy in the Golden Age
Op-Ed | By Sierra Clair | August 29, 2025
As President Trump and his administration usher in America’s golden age, diplomacy is returning front and center to American foreign policy. Secretary Rubio and President Trump have rewritten the playbook on American diplomacy, making it faster and more effective than ever. Trump’s particular brand of diplomacy including his focus on promoting American innovation and creativity around the world have already reaped benefits for the everyday American. His strategy of showing the world that a business partnership with the US is a much more beneficial partnership than China’s debt trap diplomacy, or even Biden’s ideologically driven handouts, has returned America to its rightful place on the world stage.
But underlying these strategies is more than just facts and figures from the treasury department. To truly pull off Trump style diplomacy a crucial piece underlies his strategy and that is understanding and championing American culture. Rather than trying to apologize away or erase American identity in the world, Trump embraces it whole heartedly. The State Department took a crucial step in supporting this policy this week with the announcement of the expansion of their partnership with the American Arts Conservancy. According to the State Department press release the American Arts Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing American art in cultural diplomacy, to broaden the global reach and resonance of U.S. artists.
The press release stated, “Together, AIE and AAC will create new opportunities for American art to inspire dialogue, build connections, and reflect the nation’s creative excellence on the world stage. This partnership will support exhibitions in U.S. embassies and ambassadorial residences worldwide, develop engaging educational resources for audiences at home and abroad, and document landmark works to ensure their stories endure.Planned initiatives include youth art programs designed to instill a passion for the arts, foster early appreciation and visual literacy, and inspire young people. Additional efforts will include artist exchanges that encourage creative collaboration and a permanent digital archive celebrating works featured in AIE projects. By combining AIE’s diplomatic platform with AAC’s private-sector support, the partnership will amplify the role of American visual art as a catalyst for understanding U.S. culture.”This little-known action went mostly unnoticed by the media and the international development community in DC, but it is nonetheless a vital piece of Trump’s overall diplomatic strategy.
Having a clear understanding of who we are and what we stand for only strengthens our negotiating position when it comes time to go head-to-head with world leaders. This starts before the meetings even begin, when diplomats around the world visit our embassies and are greeted with art that highlights American exceptionalism. This action also supports the American arts industry by uplifting hardworking and talented American artists. This is crucial to America’s golden age, as no country can truly experience a golden age without revitalizing the arts. Bringing back a merit-based approach that highlights patriotism in the arts will restore legitimacy for American arts on the world stage as well since art will no longer be judged on how well the artist meets DEI Criteria but rather talent and skill.This reinvigoration of American arts as a pillar of diplomacy does more than adorn embassy walls—it ensures that the story of a nation who has stood as a beacon of freedom to the world in its darkest hours, goes on. American diplomacy can continue unafraid to celebrate a culture of innovation, diversity of thought, and creative excellence.
By empowering artists and integrating cultural achievement into foreign policy, America sends a resounding message: that its voice endures not only through economic power or military might, but also through excellence in a culture grounded in the American ideals of liberty and justice for all. As the world watches, the United States has chosen to lead with brushstroke and vision, ensuring that its ideals, values, and creative triumphs echo long beyond policy cycles.
