On the United States’ 250th anniversary, PBS NewsHour discusses how America’s rise from small colonies to a global superpower involved major, transformative actions abroad alongside notable setbacks. The program frames U.S. foreign policy history as a mixed legacy, combining periods of significant international influence with episodes where outcomes fell short of goals. It brings together guests Esther Brimmer, Michael Mandelbaum, and Robert Zoellick, moderated by William Brangham, to evaluate what the country’s longer historical record suggests. A central theme is how history can inform expectations and analysis of current U.S. foreign policy under President Donald Trump. The segment characterizes U.S. global engagement as shaped by strategic decisions made across different eras, rather than a single consistent approach. It also emphasizes that understanding the past is necessary to assess how future policy choices may affect alliances, diplomacy, and international stability. Overall, the discussion presents America’s global role as evolving over time, with both achievements and difficulties that continue to influence how observers interpret U.S. conduct on the world stage.