This thesis studies how differences in elite and public narratives about who America is and what she represents impact foreign policy paradigms. Donald Trump broke from the liberal international consensus of the past 70 years and disavowed decades of capitalism and democracy promotion, otherwise known as American model promotion. Instead, Trump’s foreign policy centered on putting America First and rejected the cooperative liberal internationalism of his predecessors. In a manner similar to Trump, Biden’s foreign policy has focused on privileging American interests and nation building at home, opting for selective engagement over the liberal hegemony of the past. This thesis explores how post-Trump changes in elite grand strategy was motivated by a populist backlash against American model promotion, caused by decades of ignoring the public’s priorities on foreign and domestic politics.