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From Venezuela to Iran to Cuba and the United States, Tump’s failures are resounding

April 7, 2026

While the overthrow of Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, the effort to end the theocratic regime in Iran, and the removal of Cuba’s six-decade-old dictatorship may inspire hope, that optimism fades when the agent of such change is Donald Trump.

Why? Let us begin by recalling his false promises. In his 2017 inaugural address as President of the United States, he pledged to end “endless wars” abroad, reduce U.S. involvement in Middle Eastern conflicts, and question excessive military spending overseas. None of this has happened, and today he appears uncertain about how to manage the global disorder he helped create.

His initial venture in Venezuela began with a dazzling military operation in which a group of U.S. commandos captured the dictator and his wife, but it became muddled when they were replaced by a government of Chavistas—temporarily aligned with Washington but lacking legitimacy. Worse still, as political scientist Michael Shifter, former president of the Inter American Dialogue reminds me, “There is no indication that the democratization of Venezuela is at all important to Trump, and the prospects of this happening in the short term are not favorable.”

For his second foray, Trump allowed himself to be manipulated by Netanyahu to attack Iran, and promised to return it to the “Stone Age.”

As desirable as the fall of the anti-democratic Islamic theocracy—ruled by a Supreme Leader not elected by the people, who exercises absolute power over the armed forces and controls the civilian population through strict enforcement of social and religious norms, using extreme repression and an arbitrary, active morality police—the goal does not seem achievable. Rather, as Shifter notes, “Iran has turned out to be the most problematic and complicated of Trump’s ventures, and it may well define his second term.”

The viability of a quick military victory against Iran is highly questionable, as a large-scale war would lead to a prolonged conflict with high risks of attrition, regional instability, and unsustainable costs. A negotiated de-escalation appears to be a more viable alternative to avoid a devastating long-term conflict for all parties.

In the case of Cuba, Shifter points out, “it is not at all clear what Trump’s plan or strategy is.” It seems to me that Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are not considering direct intervention to restore democracy. Everything suggests they are seeking to apply pressure to achieve a gradual negotiation that allows limited economic opening—forcing reciprocal concessions while enabling the Cuban military to retain internal political control, so as to avoid another collapse reminiscent of the Mariel exodus.

Regarding Trump’s domestic policy, the costs of war have been overwhelming, and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz has caused global oil prices to rise at the fastest pace since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. His poorly conceived policies have contributed to economic deterioration and rising prices for food, furniture, and clothing, which have devastated household budgets in the United States.

As for his foreign policy, the least that can be said is that the discrediting of U.S. international leadership has increased dramatically in terms of credibility, predictability, and normative legitimacy. His confrontational rhetoric toward allies and international organizations, along with his affinity for authoritarian leaders such as Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong-un, has also generated profound distrust.

In sum, his presidency has introduced serious doubts about the reliability of the United States.

Sergio Muñoz Bata previously served as executive editor of La Opinión and was a member of the editorial board of the Los Angeles Times.

Orange County Register

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From Venezuela to Iran to Cuba and the United States, Tump’s failures are resounding

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