Trump’s National-Security 180

President Trump promised to steer America in a new direction — and the national-security vision he laid out Monday aims to do just that. About time, too.

The plan starts (natch!) with putting America first: “We will stand up for our country like we have never stood up before,” Trump said. That’s a welcome U-turn from the past eight years.

Citing a host of past failures (the Iran deal, ISIS, open borders and more), he promises a shift to a “principled realism” that acknowledges “a new era of global competition” full of bad actors: Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, Islamist jihadis.

Washington will now confront these challenges head on: “America is in the game, and America is going to win.” Trump’s vision entails four “pillars”:

Protecting the homeland with real borders, smarter immigration, targeting threats overseas and multilayered missile defense.

Promoting US prosperity. “Economic se- curity,” he insists, “is national security.” He seeks fairer trade deals, “energy dominance” and more.

Preserving peace through strength, including robust military modernization.

Advancing US influence. Though he won’t “seek to impose our values” on others, a world that “reflects our values makes America more secure and prosperous.”

President Barack Obama toured the world apologizing for US “sins,” but Trump argues that “a nation that is not proud of its history cannot be confident in its future.”

His 56-page plan offers some details, including a refreshingly honest approach to the Middle East: “Israel is not the cause of the region’s problems,” it rightly notes, pointing to Islamist violence and Iran’s aggression. Imagine Obama admitting that.

Trump’s also shunning the inane view of climate change as a national-security issue.

Yes, it’s a new direction. And after years of national insecurity, that’s good news.