Donald Trump

Last updated: May 29, 2026

Donald Trump’s return to the presidency in January 2025 brought a distinct set of priorities to US engagement in the South Caucasus. The Trump administration’s signature regional initiative has been the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), a connectivity proposal centered on opening the Zangezur Corridor through Armenia to link Turkey and Azerbaijan — and potentially extending to regional economic integration. The proposal has been controversial in Armenia, where many view it as pressure to make territorial concessions to Azerbaijan under the banner of economic development.

More broadly, the Trump administration’s approach to the South Caucasus reflects its transactional foreign policy: prioritizing deal-making, reducing emphasis on democracy and human rights conditions, and recalibrating relationships with traditional allies and adversaries alike. For Armenia, this has meant navigating a US posture that is simultaneously a potential counterweight to Russia and a source of pressure on the peace process .

Groong has covered Trump’s impact on Armenian affairs extensively, from the TRIPP proposal and its reception in Yerevan to US-Armenia security cooperation, Congressional dynamics, and how Trump-era US foreign policy compares with the Biden approach to the South Caucasus.

Groong episodes that include this tag

Below are all Groong episodes tagged with Donald Trump.

Guest:

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Topics:

  • The War in Ukraine
  • Trump’s “Eastern Approaches”
  • The Maidan Massacre and Its Legacy
  • Maidanization of Georgia?
  • Armenia in the Shadow of Ukraine

Episode 393 | Recorded: December 7, 2024

Guest:

SUPPORT PROF. KATCHANOVSI’S WORK HERE: https://gofund.me/52b68e07

Topics:

  • The War in Ukraine
  • Trump’s “Eastern Approaches”
  • The Maidan Massacre and Its Legacy
  • Maidanization of Georgia?
  • Armenia in the Shadow of Ukraine

Episode 393 | Recorded: December 7, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Turkey’s Role in the 44-Day War
  • NATO and Intelligence Sharing
  • Global Power Rivalries
  • Lessons from U.S. Intelligence Practices

Episode 392 | Recorded: December 2, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Turkey’s Role in the 44-Day War
  • NATO and Intelligence Sharing
  • Global Power Rivalries
  • Lessons from U.S. Intelligence Practices

Episode 392 | Recorded: December 2, 2024

Turkey’s Role in the 44-Day War. NATO and Intelligence Sharing. Global Power Rivalries. Lessons from U.S. Intelligence Practices.

Guest:

Topics:

  • Escalation in Syria
  • COP29 Summit
  • Can NATO save Armenia?

Episode 391 | Recorded: December 4, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Escalation in Syria
  • COP29 Summit
  • Can NATO save Armenia?

Episode 391 | Recorded: December 4, 2024

Escalation in Syria. COP29 Summit. Can NATO save Armenia?

Guest:

Topics:

  • Constitutional Crisis In Georgia?
  • Western Reactions and Escalation
  • Russian Reactions and Georgia’s Strategic Direction
  • Unrest In Abkhazia

Episode 388 | Recorded: November 30, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Constitutional Crisis In Georgia?
  • Western Reactions and Escalation
  • Russian Reactions and Georgia’s Strategic Direction
  • Unrest In Abkhazia

Episode 388 | Recorded: November 30, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Supreme Judicial Council Head, MPs resign at Pashinyan’s “Ask”
  • Another Pashinyan Interview, More Scandalous Statements
    • Speed Cameras, Government Officials Cars
    • “Western Azerbaijan” ≠ “Western Armenia”
    • EU Mission in Armenia
  • New Escalation in Ukraine

Episode 387 | Recorded: November 25, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Supreme Judicial Council Head, MPs resign at Pashinyan’s “Ask”
  • Another Pashinyan Interview, More Scandalous Statements
    • Speed Cameras, Government Officials Cars
    • “Western Azerbaijan” ≠ “Western Armenia”
    • EU Mission in Armenia
  • New Escalation in Ukraine

Episode 387 | Recorded: November 25, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Armenia-Azerbaijan talks
  • COP29: Diplomacy and boycotts
  • Gyumri’s political intrigues
  • Mass dismissal of Armenian government members
  • Police “reform”
  • Legislative Changes In Preparation For Elections

Episode 386 | Recorded: November 17, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Armenia-Azerbaijan talks
  • COP29: Diplomacy and boycotts
  • Gyumri’s political intrigues
  • Mass dismissal of Armenian government members
  • Police “reform”
  • Legislative Changes In Preparation For Elections

Episode 386 | Recorded: November 17, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Armenia Azerbaijan Talks
  • Draft 2025 State Budget
  • Armenian Internal Politics

Episode 385 | Recorded: November 13, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Armenia Azerbaijan Talks
  • Draft 2025 State Budget
  • Armenian Internal Politics

Episode 385 | Recorded: November 13, 2024

Guest:

Topic:

  • Armenia, Armenian Americans, Artsakh
  • Ukraine War, NATO, China
  • Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Iran

Episode 384 | Recorded: April 3, 2023

Guest:

Topic:

  • Armenia, Armenian Americans, Artsakh
  • Ukraine War, NATO, China
  • Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Iran

Episode 384 | Recorded: April 3, 2023

Guest:

Topics:

  • China, and the New World Order
  • BRICS Summit and Multipolarity
    • Armenia at BRICS
  • Georgian Elections in 2024

Episode 382 | Recorded: October 29, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • China, and the New World Order
  • BRICS Summit and Multipolarity
    • Armenia at BRICS
  • Georgian Elections in 2024

Episode 382 | Recorded: October 29, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Georgian Elections Outcome
  • Political Landscape
  • Effect on Armenia and Beyond

Episode 381 | Recorded: November 3, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Georgian Elections Outcome
  • Political Landscape
  • Effect on Armenia and Beyond

Episode 381 | Recorded: November 3, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

On the Major US Presidential Candidates Do Minor Candidates Matter for us? Are We Organized Enough to Influence US Elections? How would Harris or Trump Affect Armenia & Region?

Episode 380 | Recorded: November 1, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

On the Major US Presidential Candidates Do Minor Candidates Matter for us? Are We Organized Enough to Influence US Elections? How would Harris or Trump Affect Armenia & Region?

Episode 380 | Recorded: November 1, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • ANCA Endorsements Methodology
  • On the Major Presidential Candidates
  • Arab-Americans Still Uncommitted
  • Where is the Armenian Vote?

Episode 378 | Recorded: October 25, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • ANCA Endorsements Methodology
  • On the Major Presidential Candidates
  • Arab-Americans Still Uncommitted
  • Where is the Armenian Vote?

Episode 378 | Recorded: October 25, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Armenia, Artsakh and the 2024 US Elections
  • On the Major Presidential Candidates
  • On the Vice President Candidates
  • On the National Security Apparatus
  • Arab-American “Uncommitted” Movement
  • And the Armenian Vote goes to…

Episode 360 | Recorded: September 4, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Armenia, Artsakh and the 2024 US Elections
  • On the Major Presidential Candidates
  • On the Vice President Candidates
  • On the National Security Apparatus
  • Arab-American “Uncommitted” Movement
  • And the Armenian Vote goes to…

Episode 360 | Recorded: September 4, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Norwegian & NATO Support for Ukraine
  • “The Ukraine War & the Eurasian World Order”
  • Small States and Multipolarity
  • Armenia’s Position in a Multipolar World

Episode 359 | Recorded: August 30, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Norwegian & NATO Support for Ukraine
  • “The Ukraine War & the Eurasian World Order”
  • Small States and Multipolarity
  • Armenia’s Position in a Multipolar World

Episode 359 | Recorded: August 30, 2024

Norwegian & NATO Support for Ukraine. “The Ukraine War & the Eurasian World Order”. Small States and Multipolarity. Armenia’s Position in a Multipolar World.

Guest:

Topics:

  • Armenia Azerbaijan Talks
  • Declarations of Independence
    • Declaration of State Sovereignty of Armenia (1990)
    • Artsakh Independence Day - September 2 (1991)
  • Pashinyan Press Conference
    • Negotiations Formats
    • Artsakh Rights & Security as Pashinyan’s “National Security” Problem
    • Armenian and Azerbaijani Constitutions
    • Liberating Occupied Armenian Territories
  • Putin in Baku
    • Azerbaijan’s Application to BRICS

Episode 358 | Recorded: September 2, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Armenia Azerbaijan Talks
  • Declarations of Independence
    • Declaration of State Sovereignty of Armenia (1990)
    • Artsakh Independence Day - September 2 (1991)
  • Pashinyan Press Conference
    • Negotiations Formats
    • Artsakh Rights & Security as Pashinyan’s “National Security” Problem
    • Armenian and Azerbaijani Constitutions
    • Liberating Occupied Armenian Territories
  • Putin in Baku
    • Azerbaijan’s Application to BRICS

Episode 358 | Recorded: September 2, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Russian-Iranian Relations
  • Russian-Armenian Relations
  • Ukraine’s Kursk Gambit
  • Pavel Durov Arrested in France
  • Observations from Armenia and Russia

Episode 357 | Recorded: August 28, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Russian-Iranian Relations
  • Russian-Armenian Relations
  • Ukraine’s Kursk Gambit
  • Pavel Durov Arrested in France
  • Observations from Armenia and Russia

Episode 357 | Recorded: August 28, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

Episode 354 | Recorded: August 17, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

Episode 354 | Recorded: August 17, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • US Leadership Changes
  • Iran Armenia Relations
  • Russian-Armenian Relations
  • EU Push for an Agreement
  • Srbazan Movement Next Steps

Episode 351 | Recorded: August 6, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • US Leadership Changes
  • Iran Armenia Relations
  • Russian-Armenian Relations
  • EU Push for an Agreement
  • Srbazan Movement Next Steps

Episode 351 | Recorded: August 6, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Economy in the First Half of 2024
  • State Revenues & Spending
  • Finance Sector
  • Looking Ahead

Episode 350 | Recorded: August 1, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Economy in the First Half of 2024
  • State Revenues & Spending
  • Finance Sector
  • Looking Ahead

Episode 350 | Recorded: August 1, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Who Will be the Next Leader of the US?
  • Turkish-Armenian Talks
  • US-Armenian Defense Coop
  • Armenia Azerbaijan Talks

Episode 348 | Recorded: July 30, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Who Will be the Next Leader of the US?
  • Turkish-Armenian Talks
  • US-Armenian Defense Coop
  • Armenia Azerbaijan Talks

Episode 348 | Recorded: July 30, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • New Leadership Coming to Many Countries
  • Aliyev Continues to Thumb the Nose of The West
  • Permanent US Defense Attaché to Armenia
  • Mid-year Review of our 2024 Predictions

Episode 347 | Recorded: July 22, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • New Leadership Coming to Many Countries
  • Aliyev Continues to Thumb the Nose of The West
  • Permanent US Defense Attaché to Armenia
  • Mid-year Review of our 2024 Predictions

Episode 347 | Recorded: July 22, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Prospect of a Trump Presidency on the Caucasus
  • Update on political prisoners
  • PACE report
  • Referendum on joining EU
  • Bagrat Srbazan Tavush movement

Episode 346 | Recorded: July 18, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Prospect of a Trump Presidency on the Caucasus
  • Update on political prisoners
  • PACE report
  • Referendum on joining EU
  • Bagrat Srbazan Tavush movement

Episode 346 | Recorded: July 18, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Prospect of Trump Presidency on the Caucasus
  • Mirzoyan at NATO Summit in DC
  • Parade of US Officials in Armenia
  • MPG Poll

Episode 345 | Recorded: July 16, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Prospect of Trump Presidency on the Caucasus
  • Mirzoyan at NATO Summit in DC
  • Parade of US Officials in Armenia
  • MPG Poll

Episode 345 | Recorded: July 16, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Iran President and FM Killed in Helicopter Crash
  • Bagrat Srbazan Leads Mass Protests in Armenia
  • Armenian Russian Relations

Episode 333 | Recorded: May 27, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Iran President and FM Killed in Helicopter Crash
  • Bagrat Srbazan Leads Mass Protests in Armenia
  • Armenian Russian Relations

Episode 333 | Recorded: May 27, 2024

Guests:

Topics:

  • Impressions: Raisina 2024 Dialogue
  • Indian Community
  • Trade Opportunities
  • Defense & Security

Episode 327 | Recorded: April 26, 2024

Guests:

Topics:

  • Impressions: Raisina 2024 Dialogue
  • Indian Community
  • Trade Opportunities
  • Defense & Security

Episode 327 | Recorded: April 26, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Reactions to Interview with Canadian Ambassador
  • More Concessions Signaled by Pashinyan
  • EU Parliament Resolution on Armenia
  • Fish Rots from the Head

Episode 318 | Recorded: March 18, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Reactions to Interview with Canadian Ambassador
  • More Concessions Signaled by Pashinyan
  • EU Parliament Resolution on Armenia
  • Fish Rots from the Head

Episode 318 | Recorded: March 18, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Georgia’s search for a modern national identity
  • Politics in Context
  • EU accession process and outlook
  • Armenia-Georgia Strategic Partnership

Episode 308 | Recorded: February 7, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • Georgia’s search for a modern national identity
  • Politics in Context
  • EU accession process and outlook
  • Armenia-Georgia Strategic Partnership

Episode 308 | Recorded: February 7, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • World in Conflict
    • Ukraine, Israel-Gaza, Middle East
  • Armenia Azerbaijan Negotiations
  • Prognosis for 2024
  • Thoughts from the Participants

Episode 304 | Recorded: January 22, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • World in Conflict
    • Ukraine, Israel-Gaza, Middle East
  • Armenia Azerbaijan Negotiations
  • Prognosis for 2024
  • Thoughts from the Participants

Episode 304 | Recorded: January 22, 2024

Guest:

Topics:

  • An Armenian in St. Petersburg, Russia
  • Russian Perceptions and Outlook on the War in Ukraine
  • Perceptions of Armenia and Artsakh in Russia
  • World Events that might Affect Outcome of the War in Ukraine
  • Where do Armenia and Artsakh Figure in a New World Order?

Episode 303 | Recorded: January 22, 2024