Former President Donald Trump shocked and outraged nations in equal measure in 2016 when he declared his intent to purchase foreign lands. In other words, Trump’s vision is outrageous. It proposes that the United States purchase more land, and laud’s authoritarian leaders, raising serious concerns about his vision for governance and frankly, what it means to be an American. As he contemplates various strategies, including coercion and military force, Trump continues to articulate a vision that echoes historical notions of Manifest Destiny.
This is why Trump’s rhetoric around expanding U.S. territory has gone beyond the simply absurd to the downright dangerous. He has blogged on other methods of obtaining land, including buying, swapping with an arrangement and even forcing. Significantly, he hasn’t ruled out the use of military force. This ambition has been the focus of criticism, as it seems to threaten current multilateral diplomatic standards.
So it’s no surprise that the former president has made no secret of his admiration for Nayib Bukele, the President of El Salvador. Trump has of course called for sending more people to CECOT, a prison in El Salvador famous for its harsh anti-crime strategies. He has a special interest in Americans wrongfully accused of violent crimes. As a result, his comments have sent shockwaves through the international community, which rightly fears for the future of human rights and international law.
Gazing Toward Gaza
In return for settlement, he proposes that the U.S. should take ownership of the deed to the region. While there has been some progress towards this ideal, further compounded by armed conflicts and humanitarian crises.
Just recently, Trump’s team put out an AI-generated promo for a fancy new Trump resort in Gaza. That shiny golden statue of himself sure went viral. This extravagant vision emphasizes his penchant for grandiosity and raises serious ethical questions about the commercialization of conflict zones.
“We look forward to the United States beating our soon-to-be 51st state.” – Karoline Leavitt
Trump’s visions of growth invigorate some circles eager for Trump’s break-with-the-status-quo approach. There’s an enormous amount of criticism of these kinds of ideas, arguing they’re built on naïve and wishful thinking unmoored from hard realism about international relations. Harry Litman, a legal expert, remarked on the implications of Trump’s position, stating, “It is way, way beyond the pale and just contempt for the Constitution and the rule of law.”
Relations with Canada and Ukraine
As we’ve learned through his presidency, Trump’s territorial ambitions don’t stop at foreign borders. He has spectacularly raged against Canada’s free trade practices. He even proposed that the U.S. annex Canada “as easily as ordering a doughnut from Tim Hortons.” This statement reflects a broader, cavalier disregard for longstanding and often diplomatic relationships.
During his presidency, Trump briefly withheld crucial intelligence from Ukrainian forces. This decision raised a firestorm of criticism, revealing concerns about supporting allies while they engaged in combat. During a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on February 28, Trump candidly noted that Ukraine is “not really in a very good position,” indicating a lack of confidence in their military resilience.
“What kind of diplomacy, JD, are you talking about?” – Volodymyr Zelensky
Trump’s statements have raised concern across America, and around the world, over the future of U.S. foreign policy and support for allies. Even critics such as Adam Liptak have slammed the administration’s moves as “deeply disturbing,” underscoring what this could mean if we continue down a course that undermines our alliances.
The Manifest Destiny Mindset
Central to Trump’s vision is his interpretation of Manifest Destiny—the belief that the United States is destined to expand across North America. For one, he’s been angling to buy Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. The positive note is that Denmark has been adamant that Greenland will not be a threat.
Trump’s rhetoric suggests a broader ambition to reshape national identity by asserting U.S. dominance over land perceived as strategically valuable. He’s peddled conspiracy theories about Chinese troops running the Panama Canal. Often overlooked is the political calculus behind the move—specifically, how it strengthens his own narrative on national security.
“But we also have homegrown criminals … that are absolute monsters. I’d like to include them in the group of people to get them out of the country.” – Donald Trump
As he releases these nefarious plans into the wild, Trump’s musings still set off alarm bells about the rule of law and good government. Lindsey Graham encapsulated sentiments regarding potential backlash by noting that any territorial changes would be “problematic at many, many levels.”
