Trump Wonders How Long U.S. 'Controls' Venezuela
The New York Times reported on Trump's musings that 'only time will tell' how long the U.S. 'controls Venezuela,' adding that it 'could last years.' (NYT, 01/07/2026). While framing this as a Trumpian gaffe, the underlying sentiment—that the U.S. has a right and capacity to impose its will on sovereign nations—is a bipartisan staple. From the coups orchestrated in Chile in 1973 to covert
interventions across Central and South America throughout the 20th century, 'control' often meant destabilization, economic strangulation, and installing friendly regimes. The State Department budget, bolstered by entities like the National Endowment for Democracy, has consistently funded opposition groups in nations like Venezuela, actions that, when flipped, are decried as foreign interference.
One might wonder if the New York Times considers this a slip of the tongue or merely reporting an inconvenient truth. After all, when the U.S. frames itself as a benevolent global policeman, explicit declarations of 'control' tend to break the illusion. Perhaps the next headline will detail how long the U.S. 'liberates' nations into compliant economic partners without ever questioning the
historical pattern.