Now we have his grand vision, his national security strategy, and it echoes the familiar Trump themes.
America First, Make America Great Again, jobs, economic power, curbing immigration, building the wall, tackling terrorism and rogue regimes and building up the military.
The dominant threat in Trump's view is Russia and China - particularly the Chinese who have global economic ambitions and pursue what the White House sees as unfair trade practices.
In essence, he evokes a new era of superpower rivalry where both those countries loom large.
It is interesting that his speech differed markedly from the tone of the strategy document itself. The speech, while singling out Russia and China as rivals, also emphasised cooperation and partnerships.
The document is much tougher. It calls them "revisionist powers" challenging the global status quo.
It will go down well with Trump supporters who see unfairness and exploitation in the entire trading relationship with Beijing, but it will be less welcome in those two countries.
One danger is that it will play into the hands of hardliners in both countries who want to see a confrontational, adversarial relationship with the US. It serves their interests.
And Trump needs China and Russia to help deal with some of the most pressing security issues of the day.
He needs China to help pressure North Korea over their nuclear weapons programme, and he need Russia to cooperate in Syria and over Islamist terrorism.