Trump's Quiet Part Loud: Regime Change for Venezuelan Oil – Cheney Would Approve

AI picture of Dick Cheney with Trump hair style.

In the realm of American politics, few figures have embodied contradiction as vividly as Donald J. Trump. During his initial rise to power, Trump positioned himself as a staunch opponent of endless wars and regime change operations, lambasting previous administrations for squandering blood and treasure abroad. Yet, recent events in Venezuela—and veiled warnings toward Cuba—paint a picture of a leader who has embraced the very interventionist tactics he once decried. This shift has drawn comparisons to former Vice President Dick Cheney, particularly in light of Trump's candid admissions about securing Venezuelan oil reserves. While a vocal segment of his base expresses unease over this bellicose turn, many remain enamored with his unfiltered style, memes, and trolling that continue to dominate social media discourse.

Campaign Promises: A Rejection of Regime Change Trump's 2016 presidential campaign was built on an "America First" platform that explicitly rejected the neoconservative foreign policy of the Bush era. He repeatedly criticized interventions in Iraq and Libya, promising to extricate the U.S. from "forever wars" and avoid nation-building exercises. In speeches and debates, Trump vowed to prioritize domestic issues over costly overseas entanglements, arguing that such policies had drained trillions from the American economy without tangible benefits.

nytimes.com

He positioned himself as an anti-establishment figure who would end the cycle of regime change wars pursued for ideological or resource-driven reasons.

facebook.com

This resonated deeply with voters weary of post-9/11 militarism, helping propel him to the White House.Even in subsequent campaigns, Trump reiterated these themes, framing his approach as pragmatic isolationism. Critics and supporters alike noted his reluctance to escalate conflicts during his first term, such as withdrawing troops from Syria and Afghanistan, as evidence of fidelity to these promises.

time.com

However, the events unfolding in early 2026 suggest a dramatic departure from this stance. The Venezuela Intervention: A Bold Regime Change Operation the turning point came with the U.S. military strikes on Venezuela, resulting in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife. Trump announced that the U.S. would effectively "run" the country, marking a clear pursuit of regime change.

cbsnews.com

This operation, described by the administration as targeted against drug trafficking and terrorism, involved bombings and the seizure of key assets.

pbs.org

Maduro faces federal charges in the U.S. related to narcotics and gang affiliations, but the broader implications extend far beyond counter-narcotics.Trump's rhetoric has been unambiguous about the economic motivations. In public statements, he emphasized reclaiming Venezuelan oil, stating, "They took our oil rights—we had a lot of oil there. As you know they threw our companies out, and we want it back."

pbs.org

He further elaborated that U.S. oil companies would move in to exploit the reserves, framing the intervention as a reclamation of "stolen" resources.

@bitdevhunter

This echoes earlier comments from Trump, such as a 2023 admission that Venezuela was "ready to collapse" and that the U.S. could have "taken it over" for its oil.

@yvangil

Analysts have pointed out that Venezuela holds the world's largest proven oil reserves, making it a strategic prize in an era of energy competition.

zeteo.com

The administration insists this is not traditional regime change, as it does not recognize Maduro's legitimacy.

politico.com

Yet, the actions—military strikes, indefinite U.S. control, and plans for resource extraction—align closely with historical interventions aimed at installing favorable governments.

warontherocks.com

This has raised alarms about potential nation-building commitments, despite Trump's past aversion to such endeavors.

persuasion.community

Threats to Cuba: Expanding the Shadow of InterventionThe Venezuela operation appears to be part of a broader hemispheric strategy. Shortly after Maduro's capture, Trump issued warnings to other nations, including Cuba. He suggested that the island nation "looks like it's ready to fall," implying vulnerability to similar pressures or actions.

aljazeera.com

Alongside threats to Colombia's President Gustavo Petro, these statements evoke a doctrine of preemptive regime change in Latin America.

nbcnews.com

Cuba, long a thorn in U.S. foreign policy due to its socialist government and alliances with adversaries like Russia and China, has faced renewed scrutiny under Trump. His comments have sparked anxieties about escalation, with some viewing them as thinly veiled threats of military or economic coercion.

nbcwashington.com

This approach contrasts sharply with Trump's earlier promises to avoid entangling the U.S. in regional conflicts.Becoming Dick Cheney 2.0: The Oil-Driven ComparisonCritics have dubbed Trump "Dick Cheney 2.0," drawing parallels to the Bush-era vice president's role in the Iraq War, which many believe was motivated by oil interests.

bostonglobe.com

Cheney's administration was accused of fabricating pretexts for invasion to secure Middle Eastern energy resources, a charge that resonates with Trump's explicit oil-focused rhetoric on Venezuela. Trump's admission that the intervention is partly about "getting all that oil" has fueled these comparisons, positioning him as a modern iteration of resource-driven hawkishness.

@yvangil

Unlike Cheney, however, Trump's style is less about ideological neoconservatism and more about transactional deal-making. He frames the Venezuela move as a "business deal" that will enrich the U.S., with allies like Senator Lindsey Graham emphasizing prosperity through resource control.

@bitdevhunter

Still, the end result—military action for economic gain—mirrors the very policies Trump once ridiculed.Base Reactions: Disagreement on Wars, Loyalty to the PersonaTrump's core supporters, often referred to as the MAGA base, have shown a mixed response. Polls indicate broad opposition to military force for regime change, with Americans rejecting such actions by a 4:1 margin.

gelliottmorris.com

Prominent figures like Representative Thomas Massie have urged the base to "wake up," arguing that the Venezuela intervention contradicts the anti-war ethos that drew many to Trump.

@RepThomasMassie

Some conservatives decry it as a betrayal of promises to end foreign entanglements and focus on domestic priorities.

aljazeera.com

Yet, a significant portion sets aside isolationist instincts to cheer the move as a "quick win" against a hostile regime.

reuters.com

On platforms like X (formerly Twitter), supporters rationalize it as distinct from "forever wars," emphasizing benefits like reduced drug flows and energy independence.

@nomadic_gam3r

Even amid dissent, Trump's personal appeal endures. His base often prioritizes his bombastic memes, trolling of opponents, and unapologetic bravado over policy inconsistencies.

@IsaacSyed1

Posts mocking critics or celebrating the operation as a "flex" of U.S. power highlight this dynamic, where style frequently overshadows substance.Conclusion: Implications for U.S. Foreign Policy Trump's evolution from anti-interventionist candidate to architect of regime change in Venezuela—and potential aggressor toward Cuba—signals a pragmatic, resource-oriented foreign policy that prioritizes American economic interests. While this may yield short-term gains in energy security, it risks entangling the U.S. in prolonged regional instability, alienating allies, and setting dangerous precedents.

bbc.com

As debates rage within his base and beyond, the question remains: Is this a strategic masterstroke or a slide back into the interventionism Trump once promised to end? The coming months will reveal whether this pivot strengthens or fractures his political legacy.