MANIFEST DESTINY

For the most part, manifest destiny is a term that has been relegated to the annals of United States history. It is generally used in relation to U.S. expansion from its original east coast colonies to the U.S west coast states during the 19th century.  Writing about American imperialism in the 19th century historian, William Earl Weeks stated, 

"The rhetoric of American empire comprises three main aspects: the assumption of the unique moral virtue of the United States, the assertion of its mission to redeem the world by the spread of republican government and more generally the 'American way of life,' and the faith in the nation's divinely ordained destiny to succeed in this mission."   

Weeks, William Earl (2002). John Quincy Adams and American Global Empire. University Press of Kentucky. pp. 183–184. ISBN 978-0-8131-9058-7. 

Weeks' three main aspects of imperialism provides an accurate description of manifest destiny.  The term manifest destiny first emerged during the1844 presidential election between James Knox Polk and Henry Clay. After Polk won the election, the term became part of the United States' lexicon of political terms.  It was a controversial subject with regard to its use in initially shaping U.S. continental policy and later in shaping its foreign policies. Not everyone during that period of time subscribed to idea of manifest destiny.  For example, Presidents like Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses Grant did not subscribe to it.  After World War I, the term was largely ignored as guiding principle of U.S. foreign policy.   

MANIFEST DESTINY IN THE TRUMP ERA 

In President Trump's inaugural address on January 20, 2025, manifest destiny reemerged when he said, "And we will pursue our manifest destiny into the stars, launching American astronauts to plant the Stars and Stripes on the planet Mars."  Manifest destiny was recently made manifest in the launching of the Artemis II space mission to the moon on April 1, 2026.   

The Trump regime has also used manifest destiny to justify taking over Canada, Greenland, Cuba, Venezuela, and conducting a war with Iran.  Week's three aspects of U.S. imperialism have been subjected to some tweaking by President Trump.  Whereas manifest destiny in the 19th century was used to shape the nation's continental and global policies through congressional processes, manifest destiny in the Trump regime is vested in the person of the President himself who claims to have inner "moral virtue, whose personal mission is to save the world as only he can, and who will personally succeed in directing what many believe is the divine mission of the United States.  

Ideological beliefs like, Peace through Strength, American Exceptionalism, and Manifest Destiny have become doctrinaire in the mind of many U.S. citizens.  They are imbued with Christian meanings which relies on a cult like adherence that requires no factual basis.  They have become articles of a national faith in the superiority of the United States.  Christian nationalists have given it their imprimatur by equating such beliefs with doing God's will on earth.   

In the current Trump era, manifest destiny has taken on an apocalyptic urgency for some who believe it will hasten the second coming of Christ.  It has been reported that military leaders have been telling their troops that the war with Iran will do just that.  Manifest destiny has always contained a prophetic aspect, but associating it with the second coming of Christ strikes one as being a particularly fraught notion.  Any prophecy about the future runs the risk of it becoming a self-fulfilling prophesy on the part of its believers.  

Utilizing ancient prophesy as a purpose for engaging in a military conflict with Iran and giving a reason for troops to fight because it is part of God's plan supports the speculation of there being no strategic goal or plan regarding the conflict. President Trump and Secretary Hegseth talking about the inevitability of U.S. casualties as a reality of war and the possible necessity of obliterating the entire civilization of Iran in a glib manner serves to remind us that we are entering into a new Stone Age.

DESTINED FOR A LESSON IN HUMILITY

As I am writing this post, the White House has announced that Iran has accepted a two-week ceasefire proposal contingent on opening the Straits of Hormuz.   Due to President Trump's irresponsible threats of obliterating Iranian civilization the credibility of the United States has taken a direct hit.  Apart from Israel and perhaps a few Arab countries, few nations feel they can trust the United States.   Even the President's staunch allies in the United States are appalled by his rhetoric.  

This twelfth hour acceptance between Iran and the United States and Israel creates a question as to which regime has blinked, Iran, Israel, or The United States?  Given that Iran offered a proposal that was accepted by the United States and Israel, it would seem that the United Stated States blinked as the clock neared the 21st century equivalent of a nuclear D-Day. 

Frankly, one wonders how much of this dangerous drama the world can take.  Iran has quickly claimed victory in the agreed upon ceasefire.  Time will tell if it holds for the entire two weeks.  What is emerging as the manifest destiny for the United States is perhaps a long overdue moment of humility and accountability for the damage done through its adherence to the aforementioned articles of faith.

 

Norm