Stephen Wertheim
@stephenwertheim.bsky.social
America in the world, past and present / Senior Fellow, American Statecraft Program, @carnegieendowment.org / Visiting Lecturer, Yale Law School / Historian and author of Tomorrow, the World: The Birth of U.S. Global Supremacy / Views my own, obviously
Told NYT: “Trump has brought a kind of war mentality into our civic life. That makes our domestic politics resemble what realists say that international politics is like—a situation of anarchy where the only real way to check a powerful actor who wants to do you harm is to build up your own power.”
#Trump & Co. claim to be ‘realists” who understand how power works in world politics In this NYT piece, Linda Kinstler talks to realist scholars (including yours truly) who explain what Trump and his minions get wrong. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/09/m...
The Theory That Gives Trump a Blank Check for Aggression
www.nytimes.com
January 10, 2026 at 5:16 PM
Told NYT: “Trump has brought a kind of war mentality into our civic life. That makes our domestic politics resemble what realists say that international politics is like—a situation of anarchy where the only real way to check a powerful actor who wants to do you harm is to build up your own power.”
Reposted by Stephen Wertheim
Stephen Wertheim: "Today, Trump's target was Caracas. What tomorrow?"
Today, Trump’s target was Caracas. What tomorrow? | Stephen Wertheim
He took office promising to annex Greenland and take back the Panama Canal. Now that he has ousted Maduro, other countries could be next
www.theguardian.com
January 5, 2026 at 1:34 PM
Stephen Wertheim: "Today, Trump's target was Caracas. What tomorrow?"
Reposted by Stephen Wertheim
💭 Kennan Conversations: Maduro’s Fall and Russia’s Response
Hanna Notte and Stephen Wertheim discuss U.S. intervention in Venezuela and the implications for Russia’s global foreign policy and the emerging international order.
Moderated by Michael Kimmage
RSVP Now:
zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Hanna Notte and Stephen Wertheim discuss U.S. intervention in Venezuela and the implications for Russia’s global foreign policy and the emerging international order.
Moderated by Michael Kimmage
RSVP Now:
zoom.us/webinar/regi...
January 5, 2026 at 9:12 PM
💭 Kennan Conversations: Maduro’s Fall and Russia’s Response
Hanna Notte and Stephen Wertheim discuss U.S. intervention in Venezuela and the implications for Russia’s global foreign policy and the emerging international order.
Moderated by Michael Kimmage
RSVP Now:
zoom.us/webinar/regi...
Hanna Notte and Stephen Wertheim discuss U.S. intervention in Venezuela and the implications for Russia’s global foreign policy and the emerging international order.
Moderated by Michael Kimmage
RSVP Now:
zoom.us/webinar/regi...
I joined @ianmastersmedia.bsky.social to discuss Trump's strike on Venezuela and his designs on Greenland: soundcloud.com/user-8304426...
January 6, 2026 - Spencer Sunshine | Miguel Tinker Salas | Stephen Wertheim
Republicans Try to Bury the Truth on the Anniversary of January 6 | Trump Has Already Made Life More Miserable For Venezuelan and There in More Misery to Come | Trump and Miller Espouse Imperialism as
soundcloud.com
January 6, 2026 at 10:51 PM
I joined @ianmastersmedia.bsky.social to discuss Trump's strike on Venezuela and his designs on Greenland: soundcloud.com/user-8304426...
Reposted by Stephen Wertheim
After months of repeated strikes, President Trump has managed to “decapitate” the Maduro regime. Now what?
@stephenwertheim.bsky.social on what the attacks in Venezuela could mean for the world, in @theguardian.com: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
@stephenwertheim.bsky.social on what the attacks in Venezuela could mean for the world, in @theguardian.com: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Today, Trump’s target was Caracas. What tomorrow? | Stephen Wertheim
He took office promising to annex Greenland and take back the Panama Canal. Now that he has ousted Maduro, other countries could be next
www.theguardian.com
January 5, 2026 at 3:01 PM
After months of repeated strikes, President Trump has managed to “decapitate” the Maduro regime. Now what?
@stephenwertheim.bsky.social on what the attacks in Venezuela could mean for the world, in @theguardian.com: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
@stephenwertheim.bsky.social on what the attacks in Venezuela could mean for the world, in @theguardian.com: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
“Despite Trump’s reputation as an isolationist, his record to date is taking an overtaxed military and finding new ways to spread it even thinner,” said Stephen Wertheim of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
www.wsj.com/politics/nat...
www.wsj.com/politics/nat...
A New Trump Game Plan Takes Shape: Strike and Coerce
The administration’s reliance on the surprise use of force in Venezuela and other countries highlights a new era of “gunboat diplomacy.”
www.wsj.com
January 5, 2026 at 1:10 PM
“Despite Trump’s reputation as an isolationist, his record to date is taking an overtaxed military and finding new ways to spread it even thinner,” said Stephen Wertheim of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
www.wsj.com/politics/nat...
www.wsj.com/politics/nat...
Reposted by Stephen Wertheim
Today, Trump’s target was Caracas. What tomorrow? | Stephen Wertheim
Today, Trump’s target was Caracas. What tomorrow? | Stephen Wertheim
He took office promising to annex Greenland and take back the Panama Canal. Now that he has ousted Maduro, other countries could be next
www.theguardian.com
January 4, 2026 at 12:49 PM
Today, Trump’s target was Caracas. What tomorrow? | Stephen Wertheim
Trump’s attack on Venezuela confirms what his semester of speedboat strikes in the Caribbean suggested: the United States is transmuting the now-exhausted war on terror into a war on so-called narco-terror.
January 4, 2026 at 2:03 PM
Trump’s attack on Venezuela confirms what his semester of speedboat strikes in the Caribbean suggested: the United States is transmuting the now-exhausted war on terror into a war on so-called narco-terror.
Reposted by Stephen Wertheim
I hope Congress and the Senate ropes the guy in. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Today, Trump’s target was Caracas. What tomorrow? | Stephen Wertheim
He took office promising to annex Greenland and take back the Panama Canal. Now that he has ousted Maduro, other countries could be next
www.theguardian.com
January 4, 2026 at 8:18 AM
I hope Congress and the Senate ropes the guy in. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Trump has thrown a country of 28 million people into uncertainty and tossed aside the most obvious, hard-won lesson of decades of U.S. foreign policy: regime-change wars are easy to start and hard to win, much less to turn into anything resembling genuine success. My thoughts in @theguardian.com:
Today, Trump’s target was Caracas. What tomorrow? | Stephen Wertheim
He took office promising to annex Greenland and take back the Panama Canal. Now that he has ousted Maduro, other countries could be next
www.theguardian.com
January 4, 2026 at 1:33 PM
Trump has thrown a country of 28 million people into uncertainty and tossed aside the most obvious, hard-won lesson of decades of U.S. foreign policy: regime-change wars are easy to start and hard to win, much less to turn into anything resembling genuine success. My thoughts in @theguardian.com:
I told @washingtonpost.com: "Trump’s brutal deportation policies, blatant election meddling, lawless boat strikes and creeping regime-change moves against Venezuela amount to a new, highly coercive and militarized approach to the Americas."
December 31, 2025 at 4:34 PM
I told @washingtonpost.com: "Trump’s brutal deportation policies, blatant election meddling, lawless boat strikes and creeping regime-change moves against Venezuela amount to a new, highly coercive and militarized approach to the Americas."
Reposted by Stephen Wertheim
MEST LÆSTE #5
Stephen Wertheim om USA’s fredsplan i Ukraine: Trods mangler kunne Kyiv have fået et strategisk flot udfald
www.raeson.dk/2025/stephen...
Stephen Wertheim om USA’s fredsplan i Ukraine: Trods mangler kunne Kyiv have fået et strategisk flot udfald
www.raeson.dk/2025/stephen...
Stephen Wertheim om USA’s fredsplan i Ukraine: Trods mangler kunne Kyiv have fået et strategisk flot udfald
”Det er underligt, at sikkerhedsgarantien til Ukraine blev kritiseret for at være så svag, at den svarede til kapitulation, når den i virkeligheden er så stærk, at jeg tvivler på, at den overhovedet e...
www.raeson.dk
December 19, 2025 at 12:13 PM
MEST LÆSTE #5
Stephen Wertheim om USA’s fredsplan i Ukraine: Trods mangler kunne Kyiv have fået et strategisk flot udfald
www.raeson.dk/2025/stephen...
Stephen Wertheim om USA’s fredsplan i Ukraine: Trods mangler kunne Kyiv have fået et strategisk flot udfald
www.raeson.dk/2025/stephen...
At its best, this administration says it wants strong, capable allies that can take over defense burdens from the United States, and that burden-shifting will serve the mutual interests of the United States and its allies. I support that.
December 19, 2025 at 1:47 PM
At its best, this administration says it wants strong, capable allies that can take over defense burdens from the United States, and that burden-shifting will serve the mutual interests of the United States and its allies. I support that.
Reposted by Stephen Wertheim
"Trods mangler kunne Kyiv have fået et strategisk flot udfald"
Stephen Wertheim om USA’s fredsplan i Ukraine: www.raeson.dk/2025/stephen...
Stephen Wertheim om USA’s fredsplan i Ukraine: www.raeson.dk/2025/stephen...
December 16, 2025 at 1:06 PM
"Trods mangler kunne Kyiv have fået et strategisk flot udfald"
Stephen Wertheim om USA’s fredsplan i Ukraine: www.raeson.dk/2025/stephen...
Stephen Wertheim om USA’s fredsplan i Ukraine: www.raeson.dk/2025/stephen...
Can Democrats tell a compelling story about America's role in the world?
December 15, 2025 at 9:17 PM
Can Democrats tell a compelling story about America's role in the world?
Reposted by Stephen Wertheim
CPC Deputy Chair @repilhan.bsky.social and Whip @chuygarcia.house.gov along with the Progressive Caucus are supporting two resolutions to end Trump’s brutal military campaign in Venezuela that has killed 87 people.
December 14, 2025 at 9:30 PM
CPC Deputy Chair @repilhan.bsky.social and Whip @chuygarcia.house.gov along with the Progressive Caucus are supporting two resolutions to end Trump’s brutal military campaign in Venezuela that has killed 87 people.
Reposted by Stephen Wertheim
Excellent!!
Trump is taking the culture war global — and may be moving military adventurism closer to home. I had a searching discussion with @jeetheer.bsky.social about Trump’s new National Security Strategy. Llisten via @thenation.com: www.thenation.com/podcast/poli...
Trump’s Global Culture War
On The Time of Monsters: Stephen Wertheim on the government's new National Security Strategy.
www.thenation.com
December 14, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Excellent!!
Trump is taking the culture war global — and may be moving military adventurism closer to home. I had a searching discussion with @jeetheer.bsky.social about Trump’s new National Security Strategy. Llisten via @thenation.com: www.thenation.com/podcast/poli...
Trump’s Global Culture War
On The Time of Monsters: Stephen Wertheim on the government's new National Security Strategy.
www.thenation.com
December 14, 2025 at 7:28 PM
Trump is taking the culture war global — and may be moving military adventurism closer to home. I had a searching discussion with @jeetheer.bsky.social about Trump’s new National Security Strategy. Llisten via @thenation.com: www.thenation.com/podcast/poli...
I break down Trump's National Security Strategy: the good, the bad, the ugly, and the both bad and ugly. youtu.be/2CXMtCZEcag?...
Decoding Trump’s Foreign Policy Blueprint
YouTube video by Carnegie Endowment
youtu.be
December 12, 2025 at 6:59 PM
I break down Trump's National Security Strategy: the good, the bad, the ugly, and the both bad and ugly. youtu.be/2CXMtCZEcag?...
I joined @abcaustralia.bsky.social to ponder Trump’s new National Security Strategy: www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
Has the US turned in its sheriff badge? - ABC listen
In its latest National Security Strategy, the Trump administration declares the days of the US propping up the world order, and playing sheriff, is over.
www.abc.net.au
December 8, 2025 at 1:01 PM
I joined @abcaustralia.bsky.social to ponder Trump’s new National Security Strategy: www.abc.net.au/listen/progr...
Reposted by Stephen Wertheim
The Russia-Ukraine peace deal is not a loss. Nor is it a victory | Stephen Wertheim
The Russia-Ukraine peace deal is not a loss. Nor is it a victory | Stephen Wertheim
The conflict is neither a clear-cut defeat nor a feel-good victory, but an in-between outcome that contains profound elements of each
www.theguardian.com
November 29, 2025 at 12:02 PM
The Russia-Ukraine peace deal is not a loss. Nor is it a victory | Stephen Wertheim
Reposted by Stephen Wertheim
The Ukraine war offers neither a clear-cut defeat nor a feel-good victory: "Ukraine has achieved astonishing successes that must be retained; it has also suffered immense losses that will not be redeemed." Peace will come only in facing both sides of that verdict. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Russia-Ukraine peace deal is not a loss. Nor is it a victory | Stephen Wertheim
The conflict is neither a clearcut defeat nor a feelgood victory, but an in-between outcome that contains profound elements of each
www.theguardian.com
November 29, 2025 at 4:32 PM
The Ukraine war offers neither a clear-cut defeat nor a feel-good victory: "Ukraine has achieved astonishing successes that must be retained; it has also suffered immense losses that will not be redeemed." Peace will come only in facing both sides of that verdict. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Take the win, and the loss, in Ukraine.
Ukraine risks becoming the latest victim of America's chronic inability to see the outcomes of its wars for what they are.
My thoughts in @theguardian.com: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Ukraine risks becoming the latest victim of America's chronic inability to see the outcomes of its wars for what they are.
My thoughts in @theguardian.com: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The Russia-Ukraine peace deal is not a loss. Nor is it a victory | Stephen Wertheim
The conflict is neither a clear-cut defeat nor a feel-good victory, but an in-between outcome that contains profound elements of each
www.theguardian.com
November 29, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Take the win, and the loss, in Ukraine.
Ukraine risks becoming the latest victim of America's chronic inability to see the outcomes of its wars for what they are.
My thoughts in @theguardian.com: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Ukraine risks becoming the latest victim of America's chronic inability to see the outcomes of its wars for what they are.
My thoughts in @theguardian.com: www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by Stephen Wertheim
To restore stability in the Taiwan Strait, Trump and Xi “should initiate working-level talks to formulate a new U.S.-Chinese joint communiqué or, failing that, a pair of parallel statements,” argues @stephenwertheim.bsky.social.
Toward a Taiwan Truce
How Trump and Xi can pull back from the brink.
www.foreignaffairs.com
October 28, 2025 at 8:16 PM
To restore stability in the Taiwan Strait, Trump and Xi “should initiate working-level talks to formulate a new U.S.-Chinese joint communiqué or, failing that, a pair of parallel statements,” argues @stephenwertheim.bsky.social.
Curious for a journalist to mischaracterize this piece of mine, which explicitly calls on the Trump admin to *reject* Beijing's requests for the United States to "support peaceful reunification" or "oppose Taiwan independence." There isn't a single Beijing "diktat" that I propose accepting.
Curious how some commentators are so glibly urging the Trump administration to bend to Beijing's diktat toward a territory it has never controlled. "For the first time...the U.S. would specify peaceful unification as one of the outcomes it would accept" www.foreignaffairs.com/taiwan/towar...
Toward a Taiwan Truce
How Trump and Xi can pull back from the brink.
www.foreignaffairs.com
October 31, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Curious for a journalist to mischaracterize this piece of mine, which explicitly calls on the Trump admin to *reject* Beijing's requests for the United States to "support peaceful reunification" or "oppose Taiwan independence." There isn't a single Beijing "diktat" that I propose accepting.