Trump's Misguided Monroe Doctrine and Bad Bunny's Inclusive Message
During Bad Bunny's captivating Super Bowl halftime performance, the word "America" expanded like an accordion, embracing people of all nationalities across the hemisphere. His football displayed the message, "Together we are all America," reflecting a broad, inclusive vision. Near the end, after shouting "God bless America" in English, Bad Bunny listed numerous countries in the western hemisphere, celebrating a united Americas.
This inclusiveness provoked Donald Trump, who erupted on social media, calling the show "an affront to the greatness of America," by which he meant solely the United States. It was refreshing to witness this greater America, a concept that has existed since the word first appeared on a 1507 map hovering over Brazil.
Trump's Ownership of 'America' and the Monroe Doctrine
Since his inauguration, Trump has acted as if he owns the word "America," using it synonymously with the U.S. in speeches like his second inaugural address. His "America first" policy assumes the right to claim resources across the hemisphere, from Venezuela's oilfields to Greenland's tundra. This perspective is encapsulated in his repackaging of the Monroe Doctrine, which he increasingly invokes as a "big deal" to justify dominating the region.
Trump has not defined his so-called "Donroe doctrine," but it aligns with a "Trump Corollary" in the 2025 National Security Strategy, warning non-hemispheric competitors like China and Russia against positioning forces or owning strategic assets in the Americas. This ignores realities, such as China's deep-water port in Chancay, Peru, built over years with billions in investment.
After introducing the Donroe doctrine following the seizure of Nicolás Maduro, Trump declared that "American dominance in the western hemisphere will never be questioned again." The White House even celebrated the 203rd anniversary of the Monroe Doctrine, an event unmarked by previous administrations. These announcements were followed by actions like the Maduro raid and threats to annex Greenland, revealing an administration anxious about foreign influence despite no evidence of Russian or Chinese activity in Greenland.
The Original Monroe Doctrine: Self-Determination Over Dominance
Trump misreads history by viewing the Monroe Doctrine as a military threat to bully superpowers and plunder resources. In its original form, articulated by Secretary of State John Quincy Adams in 1823, it was a statement of pan-American solidarity, closer to Bad Bunny's vision than Trump's. The doctrine urged giving South American nations a chance to develop democratic institutions away from European powers, emphasizing self-determination and alliance-building over dominance.
Specifically, it united the United States and the United Kingdom, recent adversaries, showing how cooperation could achieve common goals. Words like "democracy" and "self-determination" are absent from Trump's version, which focuses on strength and claims the 1823 words marked the rise of a superpower. This overlooks that in 1823, the U.S. had no power to enforce the doctrine, relying on the British navy while its own forces were minimal.
At the time, the U.S. was struggling globally, having faced humiliation in the War of 1812 when British troops burned Washington, D.C. With an army of about 6,000 and a navy of 4,000, it was no military threat. Democracy's progress seemed stalled post-Napoleon, as the Congress of Vienna and Holy Alliance promoted conservative monarchies, putting the U.S. at a disadvantage.
John Quincy Adams: A Diplomat for Peace and Cooperation
Adams, well-prepared by his European upbringing and diplomatic experience, advanced U.S. interests through peaceful means. He negotiated the Adams-Onis Treaty, transferring Florida from Spain, and improved Anglo-American relations by resolving post-war issues. In a 1821 speech, he praised the British and advocated nonintervention, opposing Trump's aggressive interpretation.
In 1823, British Foreign Minister George Canning proposed joint support for new American republics, warning European powers against military expeditions. Adams drafted the Monroe Doctrine, included in President James Monroe's message to Congress, asserting that the Americas were not for future European colonization and opposing monarchy imposition. It was a modest statement, needing British naval support, and welcomed by Latin American independence movements.
This cooperation benefited both nations, such as Britain not recognizing the Confederacy during the Civil War and U.S. support in world wars. Over time, the doctrine was flexibly interpreted, from expansionist actions in the 1850s and 1890s to interventions in the 20th century, but also inspired positive policies like FDR's "good neighbor" policy and JFK's Alliance for Progress.
Trump's Doctrine: Lack of Coherence and a Call for Unity
Trump's reformulation lacks a grand conceptual framework, as noted by former national security adviser John Bolton. In contrast, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney's recent speech, dubbed the Carney doctrine, advocates for an alliance of intermediate powers based on values like human rights and sovereignty, echoing Adams' spirit.
Similarly, Bad Bunny's halftime show, though different in tone, aligns with this vision by acknowledging the hemisphere's diversity. By naming many nations, he proposed a radical way to make America great again in the broadest sense. Ultimately, Trump should take a page from Bad Bunny and the original Monroe Doctrine, embracing inclusivity and cooperation over domination.
