Lessons From Trump’s Use of Force Abroad in His First Year Back in Office

In the first year of his second term, U.S. President Donald Trump vastly expanded the use of U.S. military force abroad, culminating in the successful Jan. 3 operation to remove Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. According to data from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, the Trump administration oversaw at least 626 airstrikes through the end of 2025 (a figure that does not include the Venezuela strikes), compared to the 555 strikes conducted during former President Joe Biden’s entire four-year term. This uptick in U.S. strikes around the world fits into Trump’s self-described “peace through strength” strategy, which frames aggressive actions abroad as crucial to supporting U.S. national security and political objectives. Although Trump routinely portrays himself as unpredictable -- which he considers an asset in foreign policy -- his use of force since returning to the White House reveals 10 overarching patterns....