The United States has relentlessly engaged in regime change operations since the end of World War II, frequently through covert CIA actions, direct military invasions, and support for local coups. This aggressive foreign policy, pursued under both Republican and Democrat presidents, has targeted governments across the globe, often prioritizing corporate interests, geopolitical dominance, and anti communist crusades over sovereignty or democracy. Democrat administrations, in particular, have shown a ruthless enthusiasm for these interventions, from Truman’s postwar maneuvers to Kennedy and Johnson’s flurry of coups in the 1960s, Carter’s meddling in Central America and Afghanistan, and Obama’s direct role in destabilizing Honduras and Libya. The pattern reveals a bipartisan imperialism, but Democrats have repeatedly demonstrated a special zeal for overthrowing elected leaders and installing compliant regimes, causing untold death, chaos, and resentment toward America.
Below is the updated comprehensive list, now including the US president in office during each operation or attempt. Entries are presented chronologically.
| Year | US President | Country | Description | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | Harry S. Truman | Germany | The United States occupied and restructured the Nazi regime as part of Allied efforts to establish a democratic government in West Germany. | Successful, led to the formation of the Federal Republic of Germany. |
| 1945 | Harry S. Truman | Japan | The United States imposed occupation and reforms to dismantle the imperial regime and install a constitutional monarchy. | Successful, resulted in a democratic constitution and allied government. |
| 1949 | Harry S. Truman | Syria | The United States supported a military coup to replace a government seen as unstable. | Successful, installed a pro Western military leader. |
| 1953 | Dwight D. Eisenhower | Iran | The United States, via the CIA and with British support, orchestrated a coup against Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh to protect oil interests. | Successful, reinstated the Shah as a pro Western ruler. |
| 1953 | Dwight D. Eisenhower | South Korea | The United States backed the establishment of a pro American government amid postwar division. | Successful, solidified the Republic of Korea as an ally. |
| 1953 | Dwight D. Eisenhower | Guyana | The United States, through CIA aid to strikes, facilitated the ouster of the elected government. | Successful, removed a leftist administration. |
| 1954 | Dwight D. Eisenhower | Guatemala | The United States organized a CIA backed force to remove President Jacobo Arbenz over land reforms affecting American companies. | Successful, installed a military dictatorship, sparking a decades long civil war. |
| 1960 | Dwight D. Eisenhower | Congo | The United States supported the coup and assassination of Prime Minister Patrice Lumumba to counter leftist influences. | Successful, led to Mobutu Sese Seko’s long term rule. |
| 1960 | Dwight D. Eisenhower | Laos | The United States intervened covertly to influence the government against communist forces. | Partially successful, contributed to ongoing civil war. |
| 1961 | John F. Kennedy | Cuba | The United States attempted an invasion by CIA trained exiles to overthrow Fidel Castro. | Failed, strengthened Castro’s regime and Soviet ties. |
| 1961 | John F. Kennedy | Dominican Republic | The United States facilitated the assassination of President Rafael Trujillo. | Successful, ended Trujillo’s dictatorship but led to instability. |
| 1961 | John F. Kennedy | El Salvador | The United States supported a coup against a reformist junta. | Successful, installed a more conservative regime. |
| 1963 | John F. Kennedy | Iraq | The United States aided the Baath Party coup against Prime Minister Abd al Karim Qasim. | Successful, briefly empowered Baathists, later leading to Saddam Hussein’s rise. |
| 1963 | John F. Kennedy | South Vietnam | The United States backed a military coup against President Ngo Dinh Diem. | Successful, but created a power vacuum escalating the Vietnam War. |
| 1963 | John F. Kennedy | Dominican Republic | The United States supported a coup ousting elected President Juan Bosch. | Successful, installed a military junta. |
| 1963 | John F. Kennedy | Guatemala | The United States backed a coup against elected President Miguel Ydigoras. | Successful, prevented potential leftist shifts. |
| 1963 | John F. Kennedy | Honduras | The United States supported a military coup ousting elected President Villeda Morales. | Successful, installed a military regime. |
| 1963 | John F. Kennedy | Bolivia | The United States aided a military coup ousting elected President Victor Paz Estenssoro. | Successful, shifted power to conservatives. |
| 1964 | Lyndon B. Johnson | Brazil | The United States backed a military coup against President Joao Goulart. | Successful, led to a 21 year military dictatorship. |
| 1964 | Lyndon B. Johnson | Guyana | The United States continued interference to prevent leftist rule post independence. | Successful, influenced election outcomes. |
| 1964 | Lyndon B. Johnson | Bolivia | The United States supported efforts to destabilize the government. | Successful, contributed to regime shifts. |
| 1965 | Lyndon B. Johnson | Dominican Republic | The United States deployed troops to intervene in a civil war and prevent a leftist return to power. | Successful, installed a pro American government. |
| 1965 | Lyndon B. Johnson | Indonesia | The United States provided support for the military’s overthrow of President Sukarno. | Successful, led to Suharto’s authoritarian rule and mass killings. |
| 1966 | Lyndon B. Johnson | Ghana | The United States backed a coup against President Kwame Nkrumah. | Successful, removed a non aligned leader. |
| 1967 | Lyndon B. Johnson | Greece | The United States tolerated and indirectly supported the colonels’ coup. | Successful, installed a military junta until 1974. |
| 1969 | Richard Nixon | Panama | The United States supported General Omar Torrijos’s coup. | Successful, shifted power dynamics. |
| 1970 | Richard Nixon | Cambodia | The United States backed the coup against Prince Norodom Sihanouk. | Successful, installed Lon Nol, leading to Khmer Rouge rise. |
| 1971 | Richard Nixon | Bolivia | The United States supported a military coup ousting General Juan Jose Torres. | Successful, installed Hugo Banzer’s dictatorship. |
| 1973 | Richard Nixon | Chile | The United States, via CIA funding and sabotage, supported the coup against President Salvador Allende. | Successful, installed Augusto Pinochet’s regime with thousands killed. |
| 1975 | Gerald Ford | Australia | The United States influenced the dismissal of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam. | Successful, led to a change in government. |
| 1976 | Gerald Ford | Portugal | The United States intervened covertly to prevent communist influence post revolution. | Successful, supported moderate forces. |
| 1976 | Gerald Ford | Argentina | The United States backed the military coup against President Isabel Peron. | Successful, led to the Dirty War with 30,000 disappeared. |
| 1979 | Jimmy Carter | El Salvador | The United States supported a coup ousting General Carlos Humberto Romero. | Successful, installed a junta amid civil war. |
| 1979 | Jimmy Carter | Nicaragua | The United States pressured President Anastasio Somoza to leave amid revolution. | Successful, but led to Sandinista rule opposed by US. |
| 1979 | Jimmy Carter | Afghanistan | The United States armed mujahideen to overthrow the Soviet backed communist government. | Successful in forcing Soviet withdrawal, but led to Taliban rise. |
| 1980 | Jimmy Carter | Jamaica | The United States influenced elections to oust Prime Minister Michael Manley. | Successful, installed a pro American leader. |
| 1980 | Jimmy Carter | Turkey | The United States supported the military coup. | Successful, installed a military government. |
| 1980 | Jimmy Carter | El Salvador | The United States aided the formation of a new junta. | Successful, maintained anti communist control. |
| 1981 | Ronald Reagan | Nicaragua | The United States funded Contras to attempt overthrow of Sandinista government. | Failed to overthrow, but weakened the regime. |
| 1982 | Ronald Reagan | Chad | The United States supported efforts to oust the government. | Successful, influenced power shifts. |
| 1982 | Ronald Reagan | Guatemala | The United States backed a coup against General Efrain Rios Montt. | Successful, changed military leadership. |
| 1983 | Ronald Reagan | Grenada | The United States invaded to oust a leftist government. | Successful, installed a pro American administration. |
| 1983 | Ronald Reagan | Guatemala | The United States supported another coup against Rios Montt. | Successful, shifted power. |
| 1987 | Ronald Reagan | Fiji | The United States backed interference in the government. | Successful, influenced regime change. |
| 1987 | Ronald Reagan | Nicaragua | The United States continued Contra support for regime change. | Failed, but led to elections. |
| 1989 | George H. W. Bush | Panama | The United States invaded to remove Manuel Noriega. | Successful, captured Noriega and installed new government. |
| 1989 | George H. W. Bush | Chile | The United States aided opposition to end Pinochet’s rule. | Successful, transitioned to democracy. |
| 1990 | George H. W. Bush | Bulgaria | The United States supported efforts to oust the communist regime. | Successful, led to democratic transition. |
| 1991 | George H. W. Bush | Albania | The United States backed the fall of the communist government. | Successful, ended one party rule. |
| 1991 | George H. W. Bush | Haiti | The United States supported a coup against President Jean Bertrand Aristide. | Successful, but Aristide returned later. |
| 1994 | Bill Clinton | Haiti | The United States intervened militarily to restore Aristide. | Successful, reinstated constitutional government. |
| 2000 | Bill Clinton | Yugoslavia | The United States supported opposition to oust Slobodan Milosevic. | Successful, led to his removal via elections. |
| 2000 | Bill Clinton | Ecuador | The United States influenced the ouster of President Jamil Mahuad. | Successful, changed leadership. |
| 2001 | George W. Bush | Afghanistan | The United States invaded to remove the Taliban regime. | Successful initially, installed interim government, but Taliban regained power in 2021. |
| 2002 | George W. Bush | Venezuela | The United States backed a brief coup against President Hugo Chavez. | Failed, Chavez returned to power. |
| 2003 | George W. Bush | Iraq | The United States invaded to overthrow Saddam Hussein. | Successful, removed Hussein but led to insurgency and instability. |
| 2004 | George W. Bush | Haiti | The United States supported the removal of President Jean Bertrand Aristide. | Successful, installed an interim government. |
| 2009 | Barack Obama | Honduras | The United States backed a coup against President Manuel Zelaya. | Successful, removed Zelaya amid controversy. |
| 2011 | Barack Obama | Libya | The United States, with NATO, intervened to oust Muammar Gaddafi. | Successful, removed Gaddafi but led to civil war and chaos. |
| 2019 | Donald Trump | Venezuela | The United States recognized Juan Guaido and attempted to oust President Nicolas Maduro. | Failed, Maduro remained in power. |
This documented history encompasses 62 distinct operations since 1945, with Democrat presidents overseeing roughly half and often the most brazen examples of American overreach. The consequences have been devastating: civil wars, dictatorships, terrorism blowback, and global anti American sentiment, all in service of an empire that lectures the world on democracy while systematically undermining it.
References:
- William Blum, Killing Hope: U.S. Military and C.I.A. Interventions Since World War II (Common Courage Press, updated edition 2008).
- Stephen Kinzer, Overthrow: America’s Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq (Times Books, 2006).
- Lindsey A. O’Rourke, Covert Regime Change: America’s Secret Cold War (Cornell University Press, 2018).
- David Talbot, The Devil’s Chessboard: Allen Dulles, the CIA, and the Rise of America’s Secret Government (Harper, 2015).
- Tim Weiner, Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA (Doubleday, 2007).
- John Prados, Safe for Democracy: The Secret Wars of the CIA (Ivan R. Dee, 2006).
- Gregory F. Treverton, Covert Action: The Limits of Intervention in the Postwar World (Basic Books, 1987).
- Philip Agee, Inside the Company: CIA Diary (Penguin Books, 1975).
- Douglas Little, American Orientalism: The United States and the Middle East since 1945 (University of North Carolina Press, 2008).
- Ervand Abrahamian, The Coup: 1953, the CIA, and the Roots of Modern U.S. Iranian Relations (New Press, 2013).