A new Trump foreign policy doctrine emphasizes threats of regime change

President Donald Trump ran for office vowing to avoid military quagmires abroad, but he has ordered military strikes in multiple countries and says the U.S. will temporarily “run” Venezuela after ousting Nicolas Maduro from power

President Donald Trump built his political appeal over the past decade partly by vowing to extricate America from military quagmires overseas, promising to avoid “nation building” and wars designed to topple regimes.

But hours after the American military executed a daring attack on Venezuelan soil — capturing its president, Nicolás Maduro — Trump said the U.S. would temporarily run the country and build up its oil industry, as he and his top Cabinet members put other world leaders on notice.

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A fire at Fort Tiuna, Venezuela's largest military complex, after a series of explosions in Caracas on Saturday.AFP - Getty ImagesColombian President Gustavo Petro, a Maduro ally, is “making cocaine” and sending it to the U.S., Trump alleged at a news conference Saturday. “So he does have to watch his ass.”

In an interview earlier with Fox News, Trump expressed impatience with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum over how to fight drug cartels that are “running” the country. He said, “Something’s going to have to be done with Mexico,” without elaborating.