America's kids

First published in the Brunswick Beacon, 01.15.26

There goes Trump’s promise of “ending the era of endless wars.” His attack on Venezuela proves Trump lied to American voters once again.

America’s kids are the world’s policemen — again.

Don’t think you imagined his promises. In October 2015, Trump asked, “Why is it always the United States that’s the policeman of the world?” In November 2015, he promised, “We’re not going to be the world’s policeman.” In April 2018, he said, “We’re spending tremendous amounts of money on policing the world. That shouldn’t be our priority.”

Don’t think it was risk-free. Trump bragged about risking American lives: “We’re not afraid of boots on the ground. We had boots on the ground last night at a very high level.”

Don’t think it will end soon. Trump said we’ll be there “much longer,” perhaps years, because “We’re going to run the country.” Venezuela has the world’s largest oil reserves. Trump said, “We’re going to keep the oil.” Elliott Abrams, Trump’s Venezuelan envoy (2019-2021), warned, “The United States cannot run Venezuela,” adding, “It’s not our oil.””

Don’t think it will be free. Trump said oil companies will “get reimbursed by us” for rebuilding Venezuela’s oil infrastructure. Don’t think that oil is yours — it will belong to oil companies that will sell it to the highest bidder.

Don’t think it will stop with Venezuela. Trump said, “Cuba is a failing nation,” attacking Mexico is “OK with me,” and Colombia’s president has to “watch his a,” because a military operation in Colombia “sounds good to me.”

Don’t think you’re alone in feeling betrayed. Five Republican senators joined every Democrat to oppose the occupation of Venezuela. Former MAGA congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene called Trump’s Venezuela attack “the same Washington playbook we are sick and tired of that doesn’t serve the American people but actually serves the big corporations, the banks and the oil executives.” She added, “This is what MAGA thought they voted to end. Boy, were we wrong.”

Arthur Hill

Southport