- James K. Polk (1846–1848): Mexico. Invasion and occupation during the Mexican-American War, resulting in the annexation of Texas and California. In support of Gringo insurgents, depriving the inhabitants of their land and rights.
- Theodore Roosevelt (1903): Panama. Supported Panamanian independence from Colombia to secure U.S. control of the Panama Canal Zone. Some argue that the previous war with Spain over Cuba was a manufactured invasion.
- William Howard Taft (1912–1925): Nicaragua. Long-term Marine occupation to protect U.S. economic interests and prevent foreign canal construction.
- Woodrow Wilson (1915–1934): Haiti. 19-year military occupation following civil unrest and to secure U.S. financial control.
- Dwight D. Eisenhower (1954): Guatemala. The CIA-led Operation PBSuccess overthrew democratically elected President Jacobo Árbenz after land reforms threatened U.S. corporate interests (United Fruit Company).
- John F. Kennedy (1961): Cuba. The CIA had engineered the replacement of Batista with Castro. Then , the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion, where U.S.-trained exiles attempted to overthrow Fidel Castro.
- Lyndon B. Johnson (1965): Dominican Republic. Sent 22,000 troops to prevent a perceived “communist takeover” during a civil war.
- Richard Nixon (1973): Chile. Covert support for the military coup that deposed socialist President Salvador Allende and installed Augusto Pinochet.
- Ronald Reagan (1981–1990): Nicaragua & Grenada.
- Secretly funded Contra rebels against the Sandinista government.
- Launched Operation Urgent Fury (1983) to invade Grenada and oust its Marxist government.
- George H.W. Bush (1989): Panama. Launched Operation Just Cause to depose and capture General Manuel Noriega on drug-trafficking charges. He had previously been a CIA asset, but showed too much independence.
- Donald Trump (2026): Venezuela. Launched Operation Absolute Resolve on January 3, 2026, featuring large-scale airstrikes and the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, who was flown to the U.S. to face narco-terrorism charge.
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