What Is the Emerging 'Trump Doctrine' on the Western Hemisphere?
What defines the “Trump Doctrine” in today’s world? This lesson unpacks key themes in former President Trump’s foreign policy and how they affect U.S. global strategy.
President Trump and his aides are now speaking of a foreign policy where pressure and the use of military might can be applied both to adversaries and, potentially, allies. Nick Schifrin has two views on the Trump Doctrine from Todd Robinson, who served as the top U.S. diplomat in Venezuela before being kicked out of the country, and Andrés Martínez-Fernández of The Heritage Foundation.
View the transcript of the story.
How Much Power Does the President Really Have Abroad?
This classroom resource helps students examine the limits and reach of presidential authority in U.S. foreign policy, using Venezuela and Greenland as case studies. It connects constitutional roles, historical doctrines like the Monroe Doctrine, and current events to spark critical thinking about who makes decisions—and why it matters.
Warm-Up Questions
- Who are the experts interviewed in this segment, and what are their backgrounds?
- Where is the Trump administration focusing on military action and intervention?
- What are the problems with the United States trying to control Venezuela, according to Todd Robinson?
- How have Latin American partners helped take on drug trafficking, according to Robinson?
- Why doesn't the Trump Administration back Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Corina Machado assuming power in Venezuela, according to Andrés Martínez-Fernández?
Essential Questions
- Why do you think previous U.S. presidents have avoided trying to remove heads of countries in the Western Hemisphere in the 21st century? (This includes Trump's first term.
- Why do you think that is changing with the current Trump administration?
- Media literacy: Why do you think the producers of segment sought out the opinions of these two individuals, specifically?
What Students Can Do
To understand feelings in Latin American countries such as Venezuela, Colombia and Mexico about U.S. intervention in their countries — and how resistance to U.S. occupation is woven into politics and culture — it is helpful to know a little about U.S. intervention in Latin America from previous centuries to today.
A good place to start is with the Spanish-American War and the resulting U.S. control of Latin American islands and territories such as Cuba and Puerto Rico.
TeachRock has helpful resources on this era of U.S. imperialism and the way decisions of that era reverberate today, from policy to culture, including the lyrics of musical artists such as Bad Bunny.
- Check out their lesson on the Spanish-American War here.
- And also see the larger unit on U.S. imperialism and the ways it has shaped regional politics and culture.
- You can also check out the segment below on Bad Bunny's popularity and role as a cultural icon.
Lesson Plans on International Politics
Find more resources on international politics and how they relate to your students with our free collection of preK-12 lesson plans and teaching resources.
Republished with permission from PBS News Hour Classroom.
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
Advertisement
