# Where does Trump's military adventurism stop? What are the consequences of that to the US? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Tags:** trump\ **Created:** [January 3, 2026, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-trumps-military-adventurism-stop-what-are-the-consequences-of-that-to-the-us/1026315 "2026-01-03T19:26:57Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-trumps-military-adventurism-stop-what-are-the-consequences-of-that-to-the-us/1026315/101 "2026-01-05T23:15:35Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > I’m beginning to think even if there are midterm elections Why wouldn’t there be? There’s no mechanism in the law for states to just not hold elections. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-trumps-military-adventurism-stop-what-are-the-consequences-of-that-to-the-us/1026315/102 "2026-01-05T23:16:22Z")
Did you finish reading my sentence? Eta: there’s a lot of mechanisms being ignored or created to justify whatever the hell Trump wants at this point. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2026, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-trumps-military-adventurism-stop-what-are-the-consequences-of-that-to-the-us/1026315/103 "2026-01-05T23:44:48Z")
> [@CoolHandCox](#): > > I’ve heard Cuba and Columbia also have drugs. I’ve also heard that Canada has drugs. That was the whole basis for tariffing them ahead of Colombia. And likewise, I’m aware that Trump has pardoned the proven guilty former president of Honduras for sending drugs into the USA, The founder of Silk Road, the head of Binance for not taking efforts to prevent money laundering in the drug trade, and Jean Pinkard. There’s more evidence that Trump is applying Mussolini’s idea of cartels - where the central leader picks who gets to run a particular industry, in return for political support - than that he gives a rat’s ass about drugs. ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-trumps-military-adventurism-stop-what-are-the-consequences-of-that-to-the-us/1026315/104 "2026-01-06T00:29:21Z")
Where does Trump’s military adventurism stop? Well the next stop seems to be Greenland, > **[Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com)](https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3mbplld6hxw2z)** > > TAPPER: Can you rule out the US is going to take Greenland by force? > > MILLER: Greenland should be part of the US. By what right does Denmark assert control over Greenland? The US is the power of NATO > > T: So force is on the table? > > M: Nobody is gonna... ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-trumps-military-adventurism-stop-what-are-the-consequences-of-that-to-the-us/1026315/105 "2026-01-06T00:32:39Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > I just don’t know if Americans have the stones to do what it takes to save it. They absolutely do not. You (and by extension the rest of us) are fucked. ---
**Author:** ![Dissonance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Dissonance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dissonance)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-trumps-military-adventurism-stop-what-are-the-consequences-of-that-to-the-us/1026315/106 "2026-01-06T07:07:41Z")
Unsurprisingly, TFG doesn’t understand anything about the Monroe Doctrine. The US had no ability to actually enforce it when it was declared in 1823. Britannia still ruled the waves in those days, and it was enforced by the Royal Navy because it served the UK’s interests as well - and the UK got to enforce its own interests in the Western Hemisphere without any quibbling from the US. The first time the US enforced the Monroe Doctrine on its own was in 1865. In 1861, France, the UK and Spain sent military forces to Mexico to forcibly collect the monetary debt that Mexico owed them. The UK and Spain left once they had gotten their money, but Napoleon III decided it was a perfect opportunity to add Mexico to the French empire while the US was busy with the Civil War. It was only after the Civil War ended that the US pressured France into leaving by means of having Sheridan deployed to Texas with 50,000 soldiers and ‘misplaced’ 30,000 now surplus rifles in places that the Mexican rebels could ‘accidentally’ stumble upon them that the Monroe Doctrine was something the US actually enforced on its own. And the UK had made it perfectly clear to Napolean III that he was on his own when he decided to make the ‘temporary’ occupation to collect debts a more permanent affair. [To quote Seward](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Second_French_intervention_in_Mexico#U.S._diplomacy_and_involvement): > By 1867, Seward shifted American policy from thinly veiled sympathy for the republican government of Juárez to open threat of war to induce a French withdrawal. Seward stated in 1868, “The Monroe Doctrine, which eight years ago was merely a theory, is now an irreversible fact.” ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 7:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-trumps-military-adventurism-stop-what-are-the-consequences-of-that-to-the-us/1026315/107 "2026-01-06T07:28:04Z")
> [@Dissonance](#): > > Unsurprisingly, TFG doesn’t understand anything about the Monroe Doctrine. And none of us, Trump included, understand the Donroe Document. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-trumps-military-adventurism-stop-what-are-the-consequences-of-that-to-the-us/1026315/108 "2026-01-06T17:41:46Z")
Further thought: It’s easy to get worked up about what Trump will do next once he does one thing. Example: Sending troops in to occupy cities. Result: A big fizzle, and Trump recently obeyed a court order to get them all out. Purpose: Trolling. Always trolling. The Maduro capture is the kind of thing that any recent president, Democrat or Republican, could plausibly have done (which is different from saying that any of them _would_ have done it; just that it wasn’t _particularly_ Trumpian or Republican). That doesn’t mean it was right or prudent (I think it was more or less right but also imprudent). So that action was _not_ trolling per se, but that doesn’t stop Trump from trolling based on it: “Maybe I’ll do this now, maybe I’ll do that.” Trump trolls for many reasons. He likes to be unpredictable, thereby keeping his perceived enemies off-balance, and, since he’s the ultimate narcissist, he like to keep the conversation constantly about himself. So Trump will undoubtedly keep doing “things” until he is incapacitated or deceased, and such a time seems not to lie too far in the future. But does he have some sort of coherent plan for domestic or foreign policy? Of course not! Wrt foreign policy, Rubio, Hegseth, and other stooges around Trump no doubt have _ideas_, though I doubt they add up to much of a whole. They may well have another idea that Trump plans to act on soon. I just don’t think it will be anything all that monumental. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-trumps-military-adventurism-stop-what-are-the-consequences-of-that-to-the-us/1026315/109 "2026-01-06T18:06:41Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > Wrt foreign policy, Rubio, Hegseth, and other stooges around Trump no doubt have _ideas_, I think the only stooge with ideas of his own right now is Stephen Miller. This whole “Donroe Doctrine” has his lizard tongue prints all over it. He’s the one who’s figured out how to get Donnie’s attention and do the things he wants. Rubio and Hegseth are clearly only taking orders from Donnie at this point, based on how much stupid shit they’re doing/saying. Not an ounce of backbone between the two of them. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-trumps-military-adventurism-stop-what-are-the-consequences-of-that-to-the-us/1026315/110 "2026-01-06T18:09:57Z")
You are quite likely correct! Also, here is a nice little article on the thread topic: > **[An exhausted strongman invades Venezuela](https://www.salon.com/2026/01/06/an-exhausted-strongman-invades-venezuela/)** > > Trump's political style requires force and swagger. His "splendid little war" was meant to prove he still has both ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-trumps-military-adventurism-stop-what-are-the-consequences-of-that-to-the-us/1026315/111 "2026-01-06T22:21:06Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > The Maduro capture is the kind of thing that any recent president, Democrat or Republican, could plausibly have done (which is different from saying that any of them _would_ have done it; just that it wasn’t _particularly_ Trumpian or Republican). That doesn’t mean it was right or prudent (I think it was more or less right but also imprudent). So that action was _not_ trolling per se, but that doesn’t stop Trump from trolling based on it: “Maybe I’ll do this now, maybe I’ll do that.” While I don’t disagree with that, I think that there are quite a few things that are feeding into this particular action. 1. Trump had to back down on the Trade War and take a loss, due to our deficiency on rare earth supplies. Consequently, we backed away from trying to stop the De-Dollarization movement, allowed China to institute export bans on rare earths, we left any nation in Africa supplying minerals or other resources to China, we’re tariffing India more than China, we’re allowing Binance and other Chinese crypto banks to funnel fentanyl money back to China without oversight, and we’ve backed away from global interests for hemispherical ones. Hitting Venezuela counts as a strike back against China, but it also grants a blessing to China to invade Taiwan and pressure South Korea to leave the American fold. 2. It’s a large enough controversy to distract from Epstein. 3. Binance isn’t the only crypto gang in town. You release the former president of Honduras under a pledge to sell drugs to the US, funneling money through Trump’s crypto companies, push Venezuela to do likewise, force Exxon to use construction crews with ties to Trump’s business partners, etc. and the whole deal becomes good for #1. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-trumps-military-adventurism-stop-what-are-the-consequences-of-that-to-the-us/1026315/112 "2026-01-06T22:36:41Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > 1. Trump had to back down on the Trade War and take a loss, due to our deficiency on rare earth supplies. Consequently, we backed away from trying to stop the De-Dollarization movement, allowed China to institute export bans on rare earths, we left any nation in Africa supplying minerals or other resources to China, we’re tariffing India more than China, we’re allowing Binance and other Chinese crypto banks to funnel fentanyl money back to China without oversight, and we’ve backed away from global interests for hemispherical ones. Hitting Venezuela counts as a strike back against China, but it also grants a blessing to China to invade Taiwan and pressure South Korea to leave the American fold. If you are saying that Trump and his advisors have no coherent strategy and therefore a lot of things are happening that are contrary to US interests, I would wholeheartedly agree. What I don’t know is to what degree each of the above is actually happening and to what degree they are recognized or intended by the Trump Regime. Explain, though, how invading Venezuela counts as a “strike” against China. (Not saying you’re wrong on most of it, though I don’t know enough to comment in any detail.) > [@](#): > > 1. It’s a large enough controversy to distract from Epstein. That’s true, but it’s not clear if the timing was for that reason. Going forward, however, as Trump does anything of any significant level of impact, it will be unclear what is and isn’t timed to distract from Epstein, since that shit ain’t going away. > [@](#): > > 1. Binance isn’t the only crypto gang in town. You release the former president of Honduras under a pledge to sell drugs to the US, funneling money through Trump’s crypto companies, push Venezuela to do likewise, force Exxon to use construction crews with ties to Trump’s business partners, etc. and the whole deal becomes good for #1. This is more like CT type stuff, but with Trump, who knows? He is clearly corrupt and using the presidency to “earn” money every which way but loose, including through his coin biz. It’s hard to agree or disagree with what you wrote above because Trump combines a wide variety of corrupt, erratic, stupid, and random “ideas” and “initiatives” with rapidly advancing dementia, turning his entire regime into an incoherent, incompetent, and definitely unhealthful stew. Too many cooks spoil such a dish, and Trump’s got all of them rattling around in his noggin right now. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-trumps-military-adventurism-stop-what-are-the-consequences-of-that-to-the-us/1026315/113 "2026-01-06T22:44:12Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > If you are saying that Trump and his advisors have no coherent strategy and therefore a lot of things are happening that are contrary to US interests, I would wholeheartedly agree. My read would be that we’re on the backfoot and losing the Trade War. Trump has had to accept a large number of conditions in order to avoid Chinese acts of retribution that would cost him his position. > **[United States and China Agree to Trade Truce](https://www.cfr.org/article/united-states-and-china-agree-trade-truce)** > > Welcome to the Daily News Brief, CFR’s flagship morning newsletter summarizing the top global news and analysis of the day. Subscribe to the Daily News Brief to receive it every weekday morning.Top o… > [@](#): > > Explain, though, how invading Venezuela counts as a “strike” against China. (Not saying you’re wrong on most of it, though I don’t know enough to comment in any detail.) Venezuela has the largest oil reserves on the planet and was acting as a significant supplier to China. If we view Trump’s new “It’s **Our** Hemisphere” statement in the same light as a kid who lost a fight going back to hang out near his parents (where he’s safe from retribution) and then smash the other kid’s toy that he was successfully able to sneak off with; it’s both an act of revenge and an admission of defeat. I’m sure it hurts, but it’s a small win in an ocean of loss. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-trumps-military-adventurism-stop-what-are-the-consequences-of-that-to-the-us/1026315/114 "2026-01-06T22:52:28Z")
Sounds plausible! ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-trumps-military-adventurism-stop-what-are-the-consequences-of-that-to-the-us/1026315/115 "2026-01-06T22:52:56Z")
Links regarding all of the other things that the US has backed down on since the Truce: > **[The Trump administration is racing to reframe his tariff rollbacks](https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/trump-trade-tariff-rollbacks-rcna244339)** > > Officials insist the latest tariff relief doesn't amount to a retreat from the president's staunch defense of tariffs as economic drivers. > **[BRICS making progress on payment system – GIS Reports](https://www.gisreportsonline.com/r/brics-payment-system/)** > > The development of a non-Western payment system is gathering pace. > **[Nvidia Wins Trump's Approval to Sell H200 AI Chips to China, But There's a Catch](https://www.investopedia.com/nvidia-wins-trump-approval-to-sell-h200-ai-chips-to-china-but-there-is-a-catch-nvda-11864899)** > > President Trump said Nvidia will be allowed to sell its H200 AI chips in China, with a 25% cut of sales going to the U.S. government. (More discussion in [this podcast](https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/rational-security-the-chestbursters-roasting-on-an/id498897343?i=1000741712660)) > **[Nigeria: Trump Recalls U.S. Ambassadors From Nigeria, 29 Other Countries](https://allafrica.com/stories/202512220383.html)** > > Africa is the most affected continent, with US ambassadors from 15 countries recalled. (Compare list to [the one here](https://www.africanexponent.com/top-10-countries-with-the-largest-chinese-loans-in-africa-2025/)) > **[Crypto giants moved billions linked to money launderers, drug traffickers and...](https://www.icij.org/investigations/coin-laundry/cryptocurrency-exchanges-binance-okx-money-laundering-crime/)** > > An ICIJ investigation traced tens of thousands of transactions and found crypto platforms awash with dirty money. ---
**Author:** ![Dissonance](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/85f322/32.png) [@Dissonance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dissonance)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-trumps-military-adventurism-stop-what-are-the-consequences-of-that-to-the-us/1026315/116 "2026-01-06T23:21:48Z")
> [@Dissonance](#): > > > [@Mijin](#): > > > > And at that point, America’s allies will escalate from finger wagging up to hands on hips. > > The second TFG attacks Denmark, the US is no longer going to _have_ allies. And that’s now officially been said out loud: > **[European allies back Denmark over Trump's threat to annex Greenland](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c07xkeee2k3o)** > > Donald Trump has refused to rule out using force to annex Greenland - a scenario that would spell the end of Nato, according to Denmark. > Six European allies have rallied to support Denmark following renewed insistence by the US that it must have control over Greenland. > > “Greenland belongs to its people, and only Denmark and Greenland can decide on matters concerning their relations,” the leaders of the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain, and Denmark said in a joint statement. > > On Sunday, Donald Trump said the US “needed” Greenland - a semi-autonomous region of fellow Nato member Denmark - for security reasons. > > He has refused to rule out the use of force to take control of the territory, and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned on Monday that an attack by the US would spell the end of Nato. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-trumps-military-adventurism-stop-what-are-the-consequences-of-that-to-the-us/1026315/117 "2026-01-07T02:18:09Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > Explain, though, how invading Venezuela counts as a “strike” against China. It’s my understanding that [China was creating stronger ties with Venezuela](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/China%E2%80%93Venezuela_relations) as part of its general attempt to increase it’s worldwide influence. I’ve seen people say that Maduro being kidnapped puts this in jeopardy (although what they were supposed to _do_ to stop it without so much as a military base there is unclear to me). Personally I suspect it will long term have the opposite effect, and encourage less powerful nations to _ask_ for a Chinese military presence to discourage American attack. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-trumps-military-adventurism-stop-what-are-the-consequences-of-that-to-the-us/1026315/118 "2026-01-07T03:00:53Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > Personally I suspect it will long term have the opposite effect, and encourage less powerful nations to _ask_ for a Chinese military presence to discourage American attack. Perhaps. But China being to do that with any level of substance is many years away. There really is only one military superpower right now. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-trumps-military-adventurism-stop-what-are-the-consequences-of-that-to-the-us/1026315/119 "2026-01-07T03:38:49Z")
> [@Aeschines](#): > > Perhaps. But China being to do that with any level of substance is many years away. Unless they station nukes there. One way or another the world in general is going to _have_ to nuclearize, and aim them at the US. Whether it’s their own nukes or those of a patron or ally, they need them if they want to continue to exist. ---
**Author:** ![Aeschines](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aeschines/32/16251_2.png) [@Aeschines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aeschines)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-trumps-military-adventurism-stop-what-are-the-consequences-of-that-to-the-us/1026315/120 "2026-01-07T03:54:15Z")
Pretty much any countries that could use them, have them. The bigger powers don’t want a bunch of small countries with nukes (i.e., nonproliferation). That includes Russia, China, etc. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-trumps-military-adventurism-stop-what-are-the-consequences-of-that-to-the-us/1026315.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-trumps-military-adventurism-stop-what-are-the-consequences-of-that-to-the-us/1026315.md?page=7)