WASHINGTON, D.C. — June 2025: The Atlantic’s June 2025 issue has sparked major conversations across the political and journalistic landscape. With a bold and comprehensive editorial focus, the magazine examines former President Donald J. Trump’s leadership style, exploring how it shaped—and continues to influence—both U.S. domestic affairs and international relations.
This in-depth issue is drawing attention for its sharp insights, investigative depth, and timely relevance, especially as the country moves closer to the 2024 election aftermath and the ongoing reshaping of Republican and global conservative movements.
Read more about The Atlantic’s history of political commentary.
The Atlantic’s lead feature, titled “The Strongman’s Mirror,” outlines how Trump’s presidency broke traditional norms of governance. It documents a presidency defined not by institutional continuity but by disruption, centralized power, and personalized politics. According to the magazine, Trump’s leadership was rooted in instinct, media control, and loyalty over expertise.
Historians and former staffers interviewed in the issue say this created a White House atmosphere of chaos and improvisation, where national priorities often changed according to the president’s daily moods and social media posts.
One particularly striking section highlights Trump’s affinity for authoritarian leaders and how he modeled aspects of his leadership on them. This includes rhetorical strategies, suppression of dissent, and a deep mistrust of independent institutions.
Explore a timeline of Trump’s key global relationships.
The Atlantic’s international correspondents dissect the far-reaching consequences of Trump’s “America First” doctrine. From NATO to the United Nations, the article explains how Trump’s transactional diplomacy created rifts with long-standing allies and emboldened adversaries.
For example, Trump’s repeated questioning of NATO’s value and his praise for leaders like Vladimir Putin raised serious concerns within Europe. According to experts quoted in the issue, this caused strategic uncertainty, prompting countries like Germany and France to invest more heavily in independent defense mechanisms.
The article argues that Trump’s approach introduced unpredictability into global governance, weakening U.S. moral authority on issues such as human rights, environmental policy, and press freedom.
Learn how Trump reshaped foreign policy in real time.
Domestically, the issue dedicates a large portion to analyzing how Trump intensified political polarization. Columnist Anne Applebaum notes that Trump’s communication strategy turned every policy debate into a loyalty test, pushing political discourse to extremes.
From the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic to the January 6 Capitol riot, The Atlantic details how Trump’s disregard for bureaucratic institutions created long-lasting institutional stress. The piece includes interviews with former Justice Department officials and public health experts who discuss how traditional processes were bypassed or ignored.
The article also explores how his presidency gave rise to a populist right-wing media ecosystem that continues to shape U.S. political narratives, even in his absence from the White House.
Understand the rise of U.S. political polarization.
Perhaps the most compelling part of the issue asks: What happens to Trumpism after Trump?
Political analysts featured in the magazine argue that while Trump himself may no longer hold office, the political style he cultivated—marked by grievance, nationalism, and outsider identity—has been adopted by a new generation of leaders within the Republican Party. The Atlantic cites examples of candidates and elected officials who mimic his communication style and campaign strategies to appeal to his loyal base.
This continuation of Trumpism, according to the issue, represents a lasting ideological shift within American conservatism—away from policy and toward identity-driven politics.
Read more about post-Trump GOP strategies.
In its editorial note, The Atlantic reaffirms its commitment to journalistic inquiry and democracy. The editors emphasize the need for transparent institutions, civil discourse, and respect for rule of law—values they argue were endangered during the Trump years.
They also raise concerns about the upcoming election cycles, urging readers and voters to remain vigilant about misinformation, voter suppression, and authoritarian rhetoric.
The editors end with a cautionary tone: “Trump may no longer be in office, but the conditions that made his rise possible still exist. It is up to democratic institutions and civic engagement to ensure those conditions do not erode our republic further.”
Discover The Atlantic’s editorial perspective.
As expected, the June issue has sparked debate. Supporters of Trump argue that The Atlantic continues to carry liberal bias and fails to give credit for Trump’s economic and judicial achievements. Meanwhile, critics of Trump praise the magazine for holding powerful figures accountable and offering a nuanced historical reflection.
On social media, hashtags such as #AtlanticJuneIssue and #TrumpLeadershipDebate have begun trending, showing that the conversation around Trump’s legacy is far from over.
The Atlantic’s June 2025 issue is more than a political critique—it is a historical document capturing a critical period in U.S. and global politics. It encourages readers to think critically about leadership, power, democracy, and the future of civic life.
Whether you are a supporter, critic, or somewhere in between, this issue is an essential read for anyone trying to understand the past decade—and what may lie ahead.
Read the full June 2025 issue of The Atlantic here.
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