In the context of the recent U.S. military operation in Venezuela, President Trump introduced a distinctive phrase to capture his administration's approach to asserting American influence in the Western Hemisphere. At his Saturday press briefing, Trump referred to this concept as the "Donroe Doctrine," a term he credited to others rather than claiming personal creation.
This expression, which cleverly blends President Trump's name with the historic Monroe Doctrine, finds its origins within right-wing media. Notably, the New York Post, a favored publication of the former president, appears to have originated the phrase approximately one year prior. The publication prominently featured "Donroe Doctrine" on its cover dated January 8, 2025, coinciding with public discussions about Trump's interest in acquiring Greenland.
Following its introduction, the phrase gradually infiltrated political discourse surrounding U.S. foreign policy. The day before the Venezuelan strike, the term surfaced on Fox News, notably on the program "Fox & Friends," which Trump frequently watches. On that Friday morning segment, correspondent Griff Jenkins referenced the "Donroe Doctrine" while explaining its relation to America's traditional Monroe Doctrine—emphasizing the United States' dominance in its own hemisphere.
For context, the Monroe Doctrine, a well-known 1823 policy statement, warned European nations against intervening within the sphere of influence of the United States throughout the Western Hemisphere. Trump acknowledged this legacy at his press conference, stating, "The Monroe Doctrine is a big deal, but we’ve superseded it by a lot, by a real lot," before uttering the term "Donroe Doctrine" for the first time publicly.
Following Trump's invocation, observers analyzed the phrase's origins and traced it back to the New York Post's January 2025 cover, which also highlighted related themes. That front page notably referenced Trump's propositions to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the "Gulf of America" and his discussions about incorporating Canada as a 51st state. Caitlin Doornbos, the author of the Post's cover story, quoted an unidentified source describing the emerging framework as the "Trump Doctrine," an early conceptual approach to the administration's geopolitical ambitions.
Initially, the usage of "Donroe Doctrine" remained limited. However, interest grew in the subsequent months, with notable coverage appearing in prominent publications, including the Financial Times and The New York Times. The phrase also gained further exposure on Fox News several times throughout the fall season.
On CNN's "Inside Politics," The New York Times' chief Washington correspondent David Sanger elaborated on the principle underlying the doctrine. He explained that the tenet implies the United States asserts the right to intervene in any nation within the region if internal turmoil there presents a direct threat to U.S. interests. Sanger remarked, "That’s a pretty broad mandate." This characterization encapsulates the expansive reach implied by the doctrine's application.
President Trump reiterated the phrase during remarks aboard Air Force One the following Sunday evening. He contrasted the Venezuela intervention by highlighting its distinctiveness from previous U.S. military engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan, underscoring the geographical proximity as a key factor. Trump framed the policy as inherently regional, stating, "It’s in our area. The Donroe Doctrine."
A New York Post spokesperson declined to comment on the specific individual responsible for coining the phrase. Internally, the Post's editor in chief Keith Poole reportedly regards headlines as products of collaborative effort rather than the work of a single person. This mindset reflects the newspaper’s editorial practices surrounding impactful headline creation.
Over several decades, former President Trump’s relationship with the New York Post has been multifaceted. He has served variously as a source, subject, supporter, and critic of the publication. Amidst recent developments, Trump engaged directly with Post reporters on both Saturday and Sunday to discuss the Venezuelan operation and subsequent policy steps.
During these communications, Trump articulated further aspects of his administration's vision, stating that the United States "should run the country with law and order.” He added that American control would enable leveraging economic resources, specifically citing Venezuela's oil reserves and other valuable commodities.
Overall, the emergence and popularization of the "Donroe Doctrine" illustrates how media narratives, right-wing sources in particular, have influenced presidential language and framing of U.S. geopolitical initiatives in the Western Hemisphere. The doctrine encapsulates a renewed assertiveness in regional policy and reflects broader ambitions articulated by the current administration.