Many observers have begun calling the new U.S. approach “the Donroe Doctrine” — a term that appeared on a January cover of The New York Post — a Trumpian twist on a 19th-century idea. In 1823, President James Monroe aspired to stop European powers from meddling in the hemisphere.

 

The ‘Donroe Doctrine’: Trump’s Bid to Control the Western Hemisphere

President Trump has tightened the U.S. grip on the Americas by rewarding allies and punishing rivals. That has upended the region’s politics.

By Jack Nicas

Jack Nicas has been a lead correspondent across Latin America since 2021.

Nov. 17, 2025