How does Donald Trump view America's alliances compared to traditional diplomatic approaches?

Trump views alliances through a 19th century imperial lens, treating democratic allies as subordinates rather than partners. He considers NATO a "protection racket" where members aren't "paying enough dues," while viewing autocratic leaders like Putin and Xi as equals—"rival crime families" deserving respect because they are fellow strongmen with their own spheres of influence. This perspective explains why Trump praises dictators while criticizing traditional allies. In his worldview, America is the "boss" of the Western Hemisphere, entitled to command its allies, while authoritarian leaders command respect as equals because they similarly dominate their respective regions.