What does Trump mean when he invokes America's 'Manifest Destiny'?

President Trump has recently invoked the term “manifest destiny” in reference to American expansionism, calling for the planting of the American flag on Mars. This term, rooted in the 19th century belief in American exceptionalism and divine right to expand, has resurfaced in Trump’s rhetoric about acquiring Greenland, making Canada the “51st state,” and “taking back” the Panama Canal. This revival of notions of American imperialism harkens back to historical traditions, according to Michael O’Hanlon of the Brookings Institution. The term “manifest destiny” originates from President James K. Polk’s expansionist platform in 1845, which included acquiring California, annexing Texas, and settling disputes over the Oregon Territory.

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