“All politics is local.” That simple rule, drilled into former students of political science major like myself, has never felt more relevant. To truly understand the US’s aggressive foreign policy, its preference for coercion over cooperation in conflicts and trade wars, we must first understand its domestic pressures. Today, few domestic issues are more radioactive than the Epstein Files.
Jeffrey Epstein, the disgraced teacher-turned-financier with ties to some of the world’s most powerful elites, was convicted of trafficking of minors and died under highly suspicious circumstances while in federal custody in 2019. His case seemed buried, until now. In mid-2025, major US media outlets confirmed that the FBI had alerted President Donald Trump that his name appears in the sealed Epstein documents. The news shook an already divided nation and ignited a firestorm among both supporters and critics of the current administration.
President Trump’s reaction has followed a familiar script: Deny, distract, discredit. From threatening lawsuits to dismissing the news as a political hoax, his team has gone into full damage-control mode. However, this time, it might not be enough.
What makes this moment different is the dissent rising from within Trump’s own conservative base. Influential Republican commentators, legal experts, and even some key donors have expressed concern over the President’s lack of transparency. They’re not just worried about the legal implications, they fear political collapse. The Epstein Files risk becoming a national wake-up call, not just for Trump, but for the broader political establishment that has long insulated itself from accountability.
Here’s where the international significance comes in.
Trump’s foreign policy, often called the “Trump Doctrine,” has been marked by unilateralism, economic extortion, and an unrelenting push to extract strategic and financial concessions from allies and adversaries alike. From China to Europe, the Global South to SWANA - South West Asia North Africa, US diplomacy has too often been replaced by tariffs, sanctions and threats. Many in these regions see a pattern of bullying, one driven more by domestic political calculations than by coherent international strategy.
With the Epstein scandal threatening to implode whatever is left of Trump’s moral authority, that bullying stance may finally soften. Internationally, there is growing hope that America will be forced to retreat inward to clean up its own house before it can continue exerting pressure on others. The US, distracted by scandal and divided by distrust, may soon find it harder to command obedience abroad.
This doesn’t mean a complete pivot to diplomacy overnight. Nevertheless, it could mean a reduced appetite for foreign adventurism. As domestic investigations into the Epstein Files widen, potentially implicating other prominent figures across party lines, the bandwidth for aggressive foreign policy will shrink.
Winners and Losers from the Epstein Files Fallout
Winners:
Global South economies including the AGCC: Nations previously targeted by US sanctions or trade pressure may find temporary relief and room to recalibrate.
Multilateral institutions: With US distraction, bodies like the UN, BRICS and Asean may have more space to operate independently and broker regional solutions.
Whistleblowers and victims’ advocates: The public attention on Epstein may empower new calls for transparency and justice across borders.
Losers:
The US foreign policy establishment: Long accustomed to operating with impunity, evident in the genocide in Palestine, the scandal could weaken its grip on global influence.
Allies of convenience: Governments that hitched their strategy to Trump’s aggressive policies, such as the Israeli Occupation, may find themselves isolated.
Wall Street hawks: A distracted or discredited administration could rattle financial markets tied to defence, surveillance and foreign interventions.
In the end, the Epstein Files are not just a domestic scandal. They are a political earthquake whose aftershocks could be felt in every capital around the world. For those seeking a fairer and more balanced international order, this may be the unexpected turning point.
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