The president of the United States, Donald Trump, reclaimed the 1846-1848 conflict with Mexico as the episode that allowed the territorial expansion of the United States towards the southwest and the cession of more than half of Mexico's territory, and linked it with his current agenda of border security, migration, and foreign policy in the Western Hemisphere. In an official message released by the White House on Monday, February 2, to commemorate the 178th anniversary of the end of the Mexican-American War, Trump described the event as a "legendary victory that consolidated the southwest of the United States, reaffirmed American sovereignty and expanded the promise of American independence throughout our majestic continent." The head of state justified the territorial expansion of the United States in the 19th century under the idea of Manifest Destiny, by stating that the United States was "destined by divine providence to expand to the golden coasts of the Pacific Ocean." He recalled that Texas declared its independence from Mexico in 1836 and that in 1846 it voted to join the United States, which led to border disputes between the two countries. He stated that in April of that year "Mexican forces launched an ambush along the Rio Grande, killing 11 American soldiers and wounding 6," an episode that, according to the message, led then President James K. Polk to declare war on Mexico in May 1846. The U.S. president highlighted the role of Generals Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott and assured that, despite being "vastly outnumbered," the U.S. forces managed to prevail thanks to their "superior military strategy" and their "firm dedication to protecting the national interest." The message emphasizes that the United States "heroically" took Mexico City in September 1847, which allowed the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo on February 2, 1848, and the cession of "525,000 square miles of new lands to the United States, representing 55% of the pre-war territory." Trump linked this historical episode to his administration: "Since I took office as the 47th President of the United States, guided by our victory on the battlefields of Mexico 178 years ago, I have spared no effort to defend our southern border against invasions, uphold the rule of law, and protect our homeland from the forces of evil, violence, and destruction." "My administration is stopping the flow of lethal drugs entering our country through Mexico, ending the invasion of illegal immigrants at our southern border, and dismantling narcoterrorist networks throughout the Western Hemisphere," he added. The head of state boasted of having reached "historical trade agreements" with El Salvador, Argentina, Ecuador, and Guatemala, with the aim of facilitating access to those markets. Likewise, he assured that his administration prevented "a hostile foreign power from controlling the Panama Canal." "We are restoring American maritime dominance."
