3:37President Donald Trump conducts a press briefing after a U.S. operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his spouse, Cilia Flores, from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, on Jan. 3, 2026.Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
In a victorious press conference following the nighttime capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro last week, President Donald Trump referenced what he termed the "Donroe Doctrine" — his concept of a U.S. superpower ready to exert its military influence across the Western Hemisphere.
The State Department reinforced this sentiment, tweeting on X on Monday: "This is OUR Hemisphere, and President Trump will not permit our security to be compromised."
Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed this perspective during television appearances over the weekend, stating, "This is the Western Hemisphere. This is where we reside — and we will not allow the Western Hemisphere to serve as a base for adversaries, competitors, and rivals of the United States."
Global leaders are likely to tread carefully as they now contend with increasing pressure from a more assertive and dominant U.S. presence, as Trump intensifies his efforts to acquire Greenland — a Danish territory, alongside interests in the Arctic.
President Donald Trump conducts a press briefing after a U.S. operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolas Maduro and his spouse, Cilia Flores, from Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, on Jan. 3, 2026.Jonathan Ernst/Reuters
"We require Greenland for national security reasons,'' he informed reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday.
Trump directly threatened Colombia, suggesting it could experience a fate akin to that of Venezuela, and noted that Cuba was on the verge of "falling." He also mentioned that Mexico might be next, as the administration aims to persist in its fight against drug cartels.
His language even raised concerns regarding Taiwan’s situation as it encounters escalating threats from China in the Indo-Pacific; his remarks could also have implications for Ukraine as it continues its nearly four-year conflict with Russia.
What is the "Donroe Doctrine?"
The "Donroe Doctrine" combines Donald Trump and the Monroe Doctrine — the 19th-century principle that cautioned against European colonization in the Americas as expressed by President James Monroe.
Referring to the influence of China, Iran, and Russia on Venezuela’s oil sector, Trump remarked, "All of these actions were in blatant violation of the fundamental tenets of American foreign policy that have existed for over two hundred years."
"Going back to the Monroe doctrines. The Monroe Doctrine is significant, but we have far surpassed it, a considerable amount. They now refer to it as the Donroe Doctrine," Trump stated Saturday at Mar-a-Lago.
According to the Department of State's Office of the Historian, the Monroe Doctrine provided justification for U.S. intervention in Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic.
In November, the Trump administration unveiled its national security strategy, aligning its approach toward the Western Hemisphere with the Monroe Doctrine.
"After years of neglect, the United States will reaffirm and enforce the Monroe Doctrine to restore American dominance in the Western Hemisphere and to safeguard our homeland and our access to critical regions throughout the area," the strategy states.
Ousted President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela and his wife, Cilia Flores arrive at the Wall Street Heliport in New York City, January 5, 2026.EPA/Shutterstock
Sourse: abcnews.go.com