The phrase "Donroe Doctrine" is a critic's label for President Trump’s more assertive policy in the Western Hemisphere, a deliberate play on the 1823 Monroe Doctrine. Analysts say the approach favors direct pressure, economic leverage and military presence over traditional soft-power tools. The reported capture of Nicolás Maduro and Trump's remark that the U.S. would "run Venezuela" — including mention of oil profits — have intensified debate about the legality and long-term implications of this shift.
Explainer: The 'Donroe Doctrine' — Trump's Assertive Stance Toward the Western Hemisphere
What is the ‘Donroe Doctrine’?
President Donald Trump referenced the phrase "Donroe Doctrine" while discussing U.S. strikes on Venezuela and the reported capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The term has been used by foreign-policy analysts to describe an increasingly assertive U.S. posture in the Americas under Trump, and the name is a deliberate pun on the historic Monroe Doctrine.
What Is the Monroe Doctrine?
The original Monroe Doctrine, articulated by President James Monroe in 1823, declared that the Western Hemisphere should be free from new European colonization and intervention. At the time, many Spanish American colonies were newly independent or fighting for independence. Over the centuries the doctrine has been adapted by different administrations to suit shifting strategic priorities.
In the 20th century, President Franklin D. Roosevelt reframed U.S. policy in the region with the Good Neighbor emphasis on nonintervention and multilateral cooperation. During the Cold War, successive administrations used Monroe-era principles to justify policies aimed at countering Soviet influence in Latin America.
What Analysts Mean By The 'Donroe Doctrine'
The so-called Donroe Doctrine is not a formal policy but a label applied by commentators to capture a pattern in Trump's rhetoric and actions: a more overt push for U.S. dominance in the hemisphere, combining diplomatic pressure, economic measures and a visible military presence. Critics argue this approach marks a shift away from softer tools of influence — such as diplomacy, aid and development programs — toward direct intervention and transactional tactics.
Under Trump, several programs that projected U.S. soft power in Latin America were reduced or ended, while the administration increasingly used tariffs, public threats, and military deployments to influence regional politics. After the reported capture of Nicolás Maduro, Trump said the United States would "run Venezuela," and explicitly referenced the country's oil resources as a potential source of profit — language that many observers described as a marked departure from previous stated goals of restoring democratic governance.
Was the Arrest of Nicolás Maduro Legal?
The legality of Maduro's reported arrest and any forced removal is contested. International law experts say that the capture of a sitting head of state on foreign soil raises serious questions about sovereignty, due process, and treaty obligations, and would typically require clear legal authority such as extradition procedures or a U.N. mandate. Supporters of the action may argue exigent circumstances or self-defense, but such claims are likely to be litigated and debated in international forums.
Bottom line: The "Donroe Doctrine" is a shorthand critics and analysts use to describe a more forceful U.S. posture in the Americas under Trump — one that favors direct leverage and strategic advantage over the softer, cooperative approaches emphasized by some past administrations.
Trump On Venezuela: "We will run Venezuela — there's a lot of oil there."
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