2026-02-04 10:09:00 — WASHINGTON — Former President Donald Trump marked the 178th anniversary of the U.S. victory in the Mexican-American War with a statement celebrating the expansion of American territory, a move that drew criticism and sparked renewed debate over the historical context of the conflict.
Trump’s commemoration of the Mexican-American War reignites historical tensions and comes as the State Department reviews the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.
- Former President Trump issued a statement celebrating the U.S. victory in the Mexican-American War.
- The statement emphasized the expansion of American sovereignty and territory resulting from the conflict.
- Mexico views the war as a military intervention resulting in the loss of 55% of its territory.
- The U.S. State Department is currently reviewing the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the war.
In a statement released Monday, Trump celebrated what he called “our country’s triumph in the Mexican-American War,” asserting it “secured the American Southwest, reaffirmed American sovereignty, and expanded the promise of independence across our majestic continent.” He added that the U.S. confidently emerged as a continental superpower after the War of 1812, guided by a belief in “Manifest Destiny.”
The Mexican-American War, fought from 1846 to 1848, began after the annexation of Texas by the United States, a move disputed by Mexico. According to Trump, Mexican forces launched an ambush along the Rio Grande River in April 1846, killing 11 American soldiers and wounding six, prompting a U.S. declaration of war in May 1846.
However, the historical narrative differs from the Mexican perspective. The source material notes that Mexico had not abandoned its territory, despite internal political struggles between centralists and federalists. President James K. Polk, the source states, “stimulated the separatist movement in Texas and sought to buy it for practically peanuts” in his pursuit of expanding the U.S. to the Pacific.
Trump’s statement continued, praising the “superior military strategy” and “steadfast devotion” of American forces, which culminated in the capture of Mexico City in September 1847 and the subsequent Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo in February 1848.
The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo resulted in Mexico ceding a vast territory – including Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and parts of other states – to the U.S. in exchange for $15 million, equivalent to $593 million today. The treaty was ratified by both the Mexican and U.S. Congresses, though the source material notes the U.S. Senate made modifications that facilitated the expropriation of lands from Mexican citizens and limited their civil rights.
The historical event remains a sensitive topic in Mexico, with some questioning the treaty’s validity due to its signing under military occupation. Ignacio Ramírez, a 19th-century Mexican writer, is quoted as saying the territorial loss left a “permanent scar on the conscience and Mexican national geography,” a sentiment Trump appeared to disregard with his commemoration.
Why It Matters
Trump’s statement is not simply a historical observation; it comes as the U.S. State Department is conducting a legal and political review of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, according to U.S. officials. While the legal implications of this review are unclear, the timing alongside Trump’s commemoration suggests a deliberate effort to frame the historical narrative and potentially exert pressure on Mexico. This is particularly relevant given the source’s observation that the U.S. has historically sought to expand its influence over Mexican territory and resources, and that Mexico is currently facing internal divisions and a lack of unifying leadership.
The commemoration also highlights the enduring sensitivity surrounding the Mexican-American War and its legacy in both countries. While Trump frames the conflict as a triumph of American expansion, it remains a source of national pain and resentment in Mexico, where it is viewed as an unjust seizure of territory.
