Donald Trump: The Unexpected Hawk

Critics who saw Trump as a peaceful leader were misinformed.

A Surprising Shift

Back in 2023, JD Vance, then a senator, backed Donald Trump for the presidency in 2024, confident in Trump's pledges for peaceful leadership. Flash to 2026, and now-Vice President Vance finds himself defending the audacious U.S. military capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, signaling a stark move toward regime change in Venezuela.

Dispelling the Myth

Trump's actions have shattered the illusion of him being a diplomatic leader. The United States now claims control over post-coup Venezuela. Delcy Rodriguez, Vice President of Venezuela, faces a tough choice: align with U.S. interests or face dire consequences.

Trump's boldness extends to economic control, expecting Venezuela to become a financial contributor to the U.S. military through its oil, or else face a significant military reprisal.

This scenario underscores the fallacy in believing Trump was ever a diplomatic dove and raises the question of what his aggressive stance means for world politics.

Oil Interests at Play

A decade ago, Maureen Dowd depicted Trump as preferring economic deals over military actions, but history disagrees. He supported previous U.S. military actions in Iraq, Libya, and Syria.

The focus on foreign oil has been a recurring theme in Trump's policies, from proposing interventions to seize oil in various countries to current interests in Venezuelan oil deposits.

Reassessing 'No New Wars'

Supporters of Trump as a peacekeeper claimed he avoided new conflicts, overlooking his intensification of existing wars and potential for triggering new ones, such as with North Korea and Iran.

While Trump preferred projecting power over starting new wars, the aggression inherent in his methods could lead to unforeseen escalations.

A Precarious Global Landscape

Understanding Trump's foreign strategy as belligerent opens eyes to the current turmoil in global affairs. Unlike past U.S. actions that followed rules to mitigate impact, Trump's approach threatens to upset international norms.

The unpredictability of Trump's power plays could destabilize existing alliances and systems that have historically reduced international conflict, leading to an uncertain future shaped by chaotic power dynamics.