The article provides an overview of the current state of American historio) graphy of U.S. foreign policy, in particular the so)called «new diplomatic history», which has gained popularity since the mid)1990s. The factors that contributed to the emergence and development of this methodological direc) tion are analyzed, the works of some of its most famous representatives are characterized. Special attention is paid to the criticism of the «new diplomatic history» by scholars who call for «the return of the American state to its proper role in the historiography of foreign policy». The aggravation of methodo) logical discussions in recent years is associated with socio)political and ideo) logical contradictions during the presidency of Donald Trump.