Trump, Venezuela and the Monroe Doctrine Reawakened
#monroe_doctrine #venezuela #us_policy #interventionism #sovereignty
Trump, Venezuela and a Doctrine Reawakened
The headline “Trump, Venezuela and the doctrine that wouldn’t die” captures how the Monroe Doctrine keeps resurfacing whenever Washington confronts turmoil in Latin America. Once framed in 1823 as a warning to European empires, it was later recast as a justification for muscular US power across the hemisphere. Under Donald Trump, references to this old creed echoed in speeches about sanctions, regime change and defending democracy in Venezuela, suggesting that history still shapes strategy.
The Monroe Doctrine’s Rise, Fall and Return
Long dismissed as a relic, the doctrine has repeatedly been declared dead, only to be revived whenever policymakers seek a simple narrative for complex crises. Its ambiguity is its strength: critics see a cover for interventionism, while supporters call it a shield against external meddling. In the Venezuelan standoff, that ambiguity reappeared, revealing how 19th-century ideas still influence 21st-century debates about sovereignty, security and American responsibility.
About the People Mentioned
Donald Trump
Donald John Trump, born June 14, 1946, in Queens, New York, is an American businessman, media personality, and politician. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School in 1968 with a degree in economics. In 1971, he took over his family’s real estate business, renaming it the Trump Organization, through which he expanded into building and managing skyscrapers, hotels, casinos, and golf courses. Trump gained widespread fame as the host of the reality TV show *The Apprentice* from 2004 to 2015, which helped establish his public persona as a successful entrepreneur. Trump entered politics as a Republican and was elected the 45th president of the United States, serving from 2017 to 2021. His presidency was marked by significant policy actions including tax cuts, deregulation, the appointment of three Supreme Court justices, renegotiation of trade agreements (notably replacing NAFTA with the USMCA), and a focus on immigration control including border wall expansion. He withdrew the U.S. from international agreements such as the Paris Climate Accord and the Iran nuclear deal, and engaged in a trade war with China. His administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic was criticized for downplaying the virus’s severity. Trump was impeached twice by the House of Representatives—first in 2019 for abuse of power and obstruction, and again in 2021 for incitement of insurrection—but was acquitted by the Senate both times. After losing the 2020 election to Joe Biden, Trump challenged the results, culminating in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. He remains a central figure in American politics, having won the 2024 presidential election and returned as the 47th president in 2025, continuing to promote policies aimed at economic growth, border security, and military strength[1][2][3][4].
