Trump's Monroe Doctrine Misstep: A Clash with Bad Bunny's Inclusive America
Donald Trump has fundamentally misinterpreted the Monroe doctrine, twisting its 1823 principles to justify his quest for domination across the Americas. This stands in stark contrast to the original vision of pan-American solidarity, which aligns more closely with the inclusive message promoted by Bad Bunny during his Super Bowl halftime show.
The Super Bowl Performance That Redefined 'America'
Throughout Bad Bunny's mesmerizing Super Bowl performance, the word "America" expanded like an accordion, embracing people of all nationalities across the western hemisphere. His football displayed the message "Together we are all America," and he concluded by shouting "God bless America" before listing numerous countries in the region. This inclusiveness provoked outrage from Donald Trump, who denounced the show as "an affront to the greatness of America," using the term synonymously with the United States alone.
Bad Bunny's vision recalls the historical understanding of "America" since its first appearance on a 1507 map hovering over Brazil. Trump, however, has consistently acted as if he owns the word, using it exclusively for the US in his second inaugural address and his "America first" foreign policy, which assumes rights to resources from Venezuela to Greenland.
Trump's 'Donroe Doctrine': A Distortion of History
Trump's repackaging of the Monroe doctrine as a "big deal" for hemispheric dominance represents a significant historical distortion. He has increasingly invoked what he calls the "Donroe doctrine," which appears synonymous with a "Trump Corollary" outlined in the 2025 National Security Strategy. This updated version warns non-hemispheric competitors like China, Russia, and Iran against positioning forces or owning strategic assets in the region, despite existing Chinese investments such as the deep-water port in Chancay, Peru.
After seizing Nicolás Maduro, Trump promised that "American dominance in the western hemisphere will never be questioned again," and the White House unusually celebrated the 203rd anniversary of the Monroe doctrine. These actions, including threats to annex Greenland, reveal an administration anxious about foreign influence, despite lacking evidence in some cases.
The Original Monroe Doctrine: Self-Determination Over Dominance
The original Monroe doctrine, articulated by Secretary of State John Quincy Adams in 1823, was a statement of pan-American solidarity focused on self-determination, not dominance. It aimed to protect newly independent South American nations from European colonization and monarchical imposition, advocating for democratic development away from great power interference. The doctrine fostered cooperation between the United States and the United Kingdom, emphasizing alliances over unilateral action.
In contrast, Trump's version omits key terms like "democracy" and "self-determination," instead emphasizing strength and superpower status. This overlooks the historical context: in 1823, the US had minimal military power, with an army of just over 6,000 troops and a navy of about 4,000, relying on the British navy for enforcement.
Historical Context and John Quincy Adams' Vision
In 1823, the United States was struggling to establish its global position after wars with Britain and the conservative backlash following Napoleon's defeat. John Quincy Adams, a well-traveled diplomat fluent in multiple languages, played a crucial role in shaping the Monroe doctrine. He negotiated peaceful land transfers like the Adams-Onis treaty and improved Anglo-American relations, advocating for nonintervention—a direct contrast to Trump's approach.
The doctrine emerged from a proposal by British Foreign Minister George Canning, seeking joint support for new American republics against European recolonization. It asserted that the Americas were not open to future European colonization but did not alter existing colonies or promise US military intervention without British support.
Evolution and Contemporary Relevance
The Monroe doctrine has been a flexible instrument over time, used for both expansionist agendas, such as US acquisitions in the 1850s and 1890s, and cooperative policies like FDR's "good neighbor" initiative and JFK's Alliance for Progress. Trump's reinterpretation lacks a coherent framework, with former national security adviser John Bolton noting there is no grand Trump doctrine, only opportunistic actions.
Paradoxically, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's recent speech at Davos, advocating for an alliance of intermediate powers based on human rights and sustainability, echoes the original Monroe doctrine's spirit more closely. This, along with Bad Bunny's performance, highlights a vision of America that embraces inclusivity and cooperation across the hemisphere.
In essence, Trump's misreading of the Monroe doctrine as a tool for dominance ignores its foundational principles of solidarity and self-determination, aligning instead with a narrow, exclusionary view of America that contrasts sharply with both historical intent and contemporary cultural expressions.
