Trump Announces Donroe Doctrine at Mar‑a‑Lago Press Conference On January 4, 2026 President Donald Trump declared the historic Monroe Doctrine “superseded” and introduced a new “Donroe Doctrine” during a Mar‑a‑Lago briefing, framing it as a modern shift to ensure U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere [1][2]. He linked the doctrine to the recent U.S. operation that seized Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, describing the policy change as a “real lot” of strategic evolution [1]. The announcement coincided with a social‑media post showing Maduro’s image on the USS Iwo Jima, underscoring the political messaging behind the military action [1].

Operation Absolute Resolve Captured Maduro and Wife in New York In the early hours of Saturday, a coordinated raid named “Absolute Resolve” deployed more than 150 U.S. aircraft from 20 bases, including fifth‑generation fighters, drones, and air support, to intercept Maduro and his spouse as they attempted to flee [1]. The operation, described by General Dan Caine as “highly planned,” resulted in no U.S. casualties and forced the couple’s surrender without resistance [1]. They were transferred to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, arriving just before 9 p.m. ET, with fighter cover maintaining security during extraction [1].

National Security Strategy Codifies a Trump‑Style Corollary The administration’s National Security Strategy now references a “Trump Corollary” to the Monroe Doctrine, explicitly framing it as a tool to “assert and enforce” American preeminence across the Western Hemisphere [2]. The document cites goals of stabilizing the region, curbing mass migration, and targeting drug‑smuggling vessels, positioning the doctrine as a justification for ongoing and future military actions [2]. This formal inclusion signals an institutional shift toward using doctrinal rhetoric to legitimize interventionist policies [2].

Scholars and Analysts Warn of Political Fallout Historians note the Monroe Doctrine’s evolution from an 1823 anti‑European stance to a broader justification for U.S. interventions, including the Roosevelt Corollary, and caution that the new “Donroe” framing may repeat past overreach [2]. Political scientists argue that invoking a doctrine‑based rationale could deepen divisions within Trump’s MAGA base and strain coalition cohesion [2]. Meanwhile, Christopher Sabatini of Chatham House labeled the Donroe Doctrine a partisan agenda extending U.S. influence into its “backyard,” highlighting concerns over the policy’s domestic and international implications [1].