But the bigger picture remains alarming. Under the second Trump administration, the United States is quickly burning through the goodwill and support it has in the region. Trump’s unilateral tariffs against export-reliant economies like Malaysia and Vietnam have generated deep anger. So while the administration managed to strike bilateral trade deals with Cambodia and Malaysia, as well as framework agreements with Thailand and Vietnam, it still lacks a comprehensive regional strategy to arrest declining U.S. influence .

U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent visit to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit went as well as one could hope. Trump struck a positive tone from the start, dancing on the red carpet that greeted his arrival.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent visit to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for the 47th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit went as well as one could hope. Trump struck a positive tone from the start, dancing on the red carpet that greeted his arrival.

But the bigger picture remains alarming. Under the second Trump administration, the United States is quickly burning through the goodwill and support it has in the region. Trump’s unilateral tariffs against export-reliant economies like Malaysia and Vietnam have generated deep anger. So while the administration managed to strike bilateral trade deals with Cambodia and Malaysia, as well as framework agreements with Thailand and Vietnam, it still lacks a comprehensive regional