The Socialist Program with Brian Becker Exposing Trump’s Latin America Policy and Why It Will Fail w/ Richard Wolff
Dec 17, 2025
Economist Richard Wolff, renowned for his critiques of capitalism, joins to dissect Trump’s revived Monroe Doctrine and its implications for Latin America. He argues that this strategy aims to counter Chinese influence but is doomed to fail, reflecting the limits of American empire. Wolff also critiques the narrative shift in U.S. foreign policy and its ties to rising xenophobia and domestic repression. He compares current U.S. tactics to past colonial practices, cautioning against ignoring history's lessons.
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U.S. Empire Is No Longer Sustainable
- The National Security Strategy makes explicit what was previously implicit about U.S. decline.
- Richard Wolff argues the era of the American empire is over because the U.S. cannot sustain global dominance and a large welfare state simultaneously.
Rewriting History To Justify Retrenchment
- Trump rewrites post‑WWII history to claim the U.S. was 'ripped off' by allies.
- Wolff says this justifies abandoning prior ideological rationales and blaming unnamed 'elites.'
Pivot To Latin America Targets China
- Wolff says the administration will pivot regionally, resurrecting the Monroe Doctrine focused on Latin America.
- He highlights the aim to block Chinese commercial influence in the Western Hemisphere.