Backsliding? Assessing the Human Rights Record of Trump’s Second Administration Amid Nationalism and Unilateralism

Forouzan Marzbani

PhD Student in Political sociology, Razi University

Introduction

The return of Donald Trump to power in 2025 has sparked widespread concern and speculation about the future of liberal values, democracy, and especially human rights—both within the United States and on the global stage. The policies of his first administration (2017–2021) faced intense criticism for their harsh immigration measures, support for authoritarian regimes, and disregard for human rights institutions. Now, with the onset of Trump’s second term, a key question emerges: does this administration signal a “return to the past” in human rights governance? This note analyzes recent developments in the human rights policies of Trump’s second term, with attention to both domestic and international dimensions.

Immigration Policies and the Reproduction of Structural Discrimination

One of the first actions of Trump’s new administration was the reinstatement of restrictive immigration orders, commonly known as the “travel ban” targeting mostly Muslim-majority countries. Originally enacted in 2017 and repealed under Biden, its reintroduction clearly contravenes the core principles of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (UN Treaty Collection, 1965).
According to Human Rights Watch (2025), Trump’s new policies have led to mass deportations of undocumented migrants—including many who had lived in the U.S. for decades—resulting in the separation of thousands of families. Furthermore, the detention of migrant children in inhumane facilities has once again become a critical concern in the field of child rights (HRW, 2025).

Suppression of Freedom of Expression and the Press

The Trump administration has continued and intensified its efforts to delegitimize mainstream media. Trump has again labeled critical journalists as “enemies of the people,” while recent weeks have witnessed growing pressure on independent media, the exclusion of reporters from White House briefings, and even legal threats against investigative journalists (Committee to Protect Journalists, 2025).
Freedom House (2025) reports that—for the first time in three decades—the United States was removed from the list of countries with full press freedom. Such trends directly conflict with Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (Freedom House, 2025).

Disregard for International Human Rights Commitments

Trump’s administration has once again withdrawn the United States from the United Nations Human Rights Council—repeating a decision from his first term that was reversed under Biden. This move reflects a unilateralist posture and a broader disregard for international human rights mechanisms (UNHRC, 2025).
In addition, Trump has slashed funding for agencies such as the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), invoking the defense of “national sovereignty” and “American values.” This approach not only questions U.S. international obligations but also directly undermines human rights progress in developing countries (UNDP Report, 2025).

Legitimizing Human Rights–Violating Regimes

Trump’s foreign policy in his second term remains grounded in strategic pragmatism and realism, reinforcing ties with authoritarian leaders such as Mohammed bin Salman, Vladimir Putin, and Kim Jong Un. This posture—especially through its silence on abuses in Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and China—has weakened U.S. credibility in promoting global human rights norms (Amnesty International, 2025).
Moreover, the administration has expanded arms deals with governments known for egregious rights violations. These actions contradict the U.S. Leahy Law, which prohibits assistance to foreign military units engaged in gross human rights abuses (U.S. Department of State, 2025).

Reactions from Domestic and International Institutions

1. Resistance from Civil Society and the Judiciary Within the United States

Despite the administration’s authoritarian tendencies, civil society organizations and the judiciary remain critical bulwarks. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the National Immigration Law Center have engaged in litigation, public reporting, and advocacy to counter policies that violate constitutional and human rights standards.
In March 2025, for instance, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled parts of Trump’s executive order on expedited deportations unconstitutional, citing violations of the Fourth Amendment and due process (ACLU v. United States, 2025).
In the media sphere, professional associations such as the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and journalism unions have led campaigns defending press freedom. This civil resistance is part of America’s longstanding tradition of protecting individual liberties.

2. European Union and Traditional U.S. Allies

Trump’s second-term policies have caused rifts in transatlantic relations. The European Union, traditionally viewing the U.S. as a strategic partner for democracy and human rights, issued a formal statement in 2025 through its Council of Foreign Ministers expressing deep concern over the U.S. withdrawal from the Human Rights Council and restrictions on migrants and minorities (Council of the EU, 2025).
Some member states—including Germany, France, and the Netherlands—have launched independent funding plans to offset cuts to UN programs like UNFPA and UNHCR.
Additionally, the European Parliament adopted a resolution in April 2025 declaring:

“To remain silent in the face of democratic backsliding in the United States is to remain silent in the face of a global threat to liberty.”
(European Parliament Resolution, 2025)

3. International Organizations and the United Nations

The United Nations—particularly through the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and special rapporteurs—has continued to document and publicize the Trump administration’s human rights record. In a report to the Human Rights Council in Geneva, the Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants described U.S. policies as “discriminatory, inhumane, and in violation of international obligations” (UN OHCHR, 2025).
Although the U.S. withdrawal from the Human Rights Council poses a challenge to global accountability structures, the UN has sought to mobilize non-state actors and other nations to maintain pressure on Washington. Some states have even raised the possibility of referring severe violations to the Security Council or International Criminal Court—though such outcomes remain unlikely in the current political climate.

4. Global South and the Rise of Multipolarity

Geopolitically, the erosion of U.S. human rights leadership has created space for countries like China, Russia, and regional powers such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia to propose alternative, illiberal models of international order.
China has promoted its model of “human rights with Chinese characteristics,” while Russia has emphasized national sovereignty against Western intervention (Brookings Institution, 2025).
Trump’s approach appears to have undermined the global human rights discourse and fueled the rise of regionalist, authoritarian, and relativist frameworks—trends with consequences that extend well beyond U.S. borders.

Conclusion

Donald Trump’s second administration represents a clear return to unilateralism, nationalism, and—at times—overt anti-human rights governance. From immigration and press freedom to international engagement, his policies have repeatedly violated international human rights obligations and undermined global democratic standards.
While Trump returns with the slogan “America First,” the human rights consequences of his administration are anything but domestic.
The central question remains: can civil society, an independent judiciary, and international pressure act as effective counterweights, or are we witnessing the continued erosion of human rights norms in one of the world’s oldest democracies?

References

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Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. (2025). Annual Press Freedom Report. From: https://www.rcfp.org