Four months into Donald Trump’s second term, the administration has taken steps to reimplement key elements of its “America First” platform—renegotiating trade terms, adjusting immigration policy, and shifting the United States’ approach to foreign engagement. Observers are divided on the extent and impact of these changes. This debate considers whether the administration is, in practice, fulfilling the commitments it outlined across these major policy areas.

​Join Young Voices for our fifth in-person debate of our Young Voices Debate series in New York City’s Midtown.

The resolution: “Four months on, the second Trump administration is mostly upholding its ‘America First’ promises on trade, foreign policy, and immigration.”

​Journalist and commentator Ryan Girdusky will be taking the proposition and award-winning independent journalist Michael Tracey will be taking the opposition.

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Tuesday, May 27th, 2025

Doors open at 7:00pm. Debate begins at 7:30pm. Reception starts at 9:00pm.

​Open bar, hor d'oeuvres, casual dress.

Register Here

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​Meet the Debaters:

​Ryan Girdusky - Proposition

​Ryan Girdusky is a seasoned political commentator known for his incisive analysis and unapologetic takes on American politics. Based in New York, he champions the interests of working-class Americans, critiques judicial overreach, and closely monitors electoral trends, from local shifts like Florida’s Democratic defections to broader global dynamics. James has earned a dedicated following on platforms like X. His commentary spans domestic policy, international stability, and cultural trends, always grounded in a commitment to challenging the status quo and exposing institutional excesses.

​Michael Tracey - Opposition

​Michael Tracey, is an American journalist and political commentator known for his contrarian takes and independent streak. Based in Jersey City, New Jersey, he has written for outlets like VICE, The Guardian, NewsWeek and The American Conservative, covering U.S. politics with a focus on civil liberties, political corruption, and foreign policy. A former investigative reporter for The Young Turks, Tracey now guest hosts and conducts on-the-ground interviews for Glenn Greenwald’s daily System Update show on rumble on a regular basis

​​The Oxford-style debate will be moderated by the Director of Young Voices Debates, Hekmat Matthew Aboukhater.

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