For decades, I’ve heard the proud term “American exceptionalism” bandied about, mainly by conservatives. These folks describe the United States in glowing terms and insist it is an “exceptional,” even “divinely-inspired” nation. Since the rise of Donald Trump and MAGA in 2016, the idea has been folded into the broader Make America Great Again movement. More recently, Trump amplified it even further with his aggressive announcement of the so-called “Donroe Doctrine.”
But what does all this mean? What IS this strange concept of “American exceptionalism,” anyway, and why is it at the forefront of US politics again?
I’ve researched this idea extensively, thought about it at length, and talked with friends about it. Based on my research, thoughts, and conversations, I’ve concluded that the US is, indeed, quite exceptional — meaning, unique and very unusual. This is mainly due to its novel, unique status as a totally immigrant-based (“melting pot”) nation.
But in terms of positive attributes vs. negative ones, the US weighs in at about 1:5. That is, “American exceptionalism” has some positive aspects — but the negative aspects far outweigh the positive. And I can prove it.
American Exceptionalism and Manifest Destiny
The New World Encyclopedia section on “American exceptionalism” says:
“American exceptionalism has been historically referred to as the belief that the US differs qualitatively from other developed nations because of its national credo, historical evolution, or distinctive political and religious institutions. The difference is often expressed in American circles as some categorical superiority, to which is usually attached some alleged proof, rationalization or explanation…. However, the term can also be used in a negative sense by critics of American policies to refer to a willful nationalistic ignorance of faults [crimes?] committed by the American government.”
Later in the entry, the authors specifically link “American exceptionalism” to the 19th-century belief in America’s “manifest destiny”: the idea that God ordained the US to overspread North America and lay claim to all lands between the East and West coasts. They write:
“American exceptionalism is close to the idea of Manifest Destiny, a term used by Jacksonian Democrats in the 1840s to promote the annexation of much of what is now the Western United States (the Oregon Territory, the Texas Annexation, and the Mexican Cession). Manifest Destiny saw itself as extending liberty and democracy from sea to shining sea across the American continent….”
Yet another aspect of “American exceptionalism” is the widespread US attitude that our “specialness” and unique position among nations entitle us to ignore/flout international rules and laws. This attitude is peaking under the current Trump administration, which consistently flouts international law, disrespects and insults allies and venerable institutions such as NATO, and loudly asserts its right to attack and blockade other sovereign nations like Cuba, Venezuela, and Iran, at will.
The US even refuses to recognize the International Criminal Court and is one of the few modern nations to reject membership or even requests for cooperation. And the US, especially under Trump, has been increasingly hostile to the UN and all its proposals, research panels, and reports (for example, concerning climate change).
Exceptionally good, exceptionally evil — or some of both?
As should be clear from the above information, the idea of “American exceptionalism” is a mixed bag, to say the least. But I would go further and say that the entire concept is misguided, arrogant, and horribly racist and White-centric.
Sure, the US truly IS a unique and powerful nation that can easily qualify as “exceptional” — but that could also mean exceptionally bad or evil, and not necessarily “exceptionally good.”
Sadly, as I’ve explored this long-standing belief system, the dark side of “American exceptionalism” has become increasingly obvious and disturbing. Think about it: just under the surface of such beliefs as “American exceptionalism” and “manifest destiny” lurk several unwholesome, super-aggressive, and downright nasty, racist assumptions.
Take early US history. To expand from coast to coast, the (mainly) white settlers had to displace or even kill off the original inhabitants of the land, the Native Americans. We believed they were “inferior” and “uncivilized,” so we had no qualms about asserting our civilized “superiority,” stealing their land, forcing them onto “reservations,” and often wiping them out entirely. We committed full-scale genocide.
Then, of course, there’s the glaring issue of slavery. The US was originally a slave-owning society, and much of our early expansion and progress was built on the backs of slave labor. It took the Civil War and the Civil Rights movement of the 1960–70s to reverse and, to some extent, undo the horrid racism and unfairness built into the original American system.
But today, under the potent influence of Trump and MAGA, racism and social inequities are rising fast. Many of the rights and freedoms of BIPOC citizens are again being threatened or even removed. Under the new MAGA version of “American exceptionalism,” much of the social progress of our former liberal democracy is being actively attacked and reversed.
Press enter or click to view image in full size
Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
The Monroe Doctrine turns into the “Donroe Doctrine”
Then there’s the famed “Monroe Doctrine” — which Donald Trump has appropriated and rebranded as the “Donroe Doctrine.” According to this US doctrine, which was spearheaded by President James Monroe in 1823,
“European powers would no longer colonize or interfere with the affairs of the newly independent nations of the Americas. The United States planned to stay neutral in wars between European powers and their colonies. However, if these latter types of wars were to occur in the Americas, the United States would view such action as hostile….
The three main concepts of the doctrine — separate spheres of influence for the Americas and Europe, non-colonization, and non-intervention — were designed to signify a clear break between the Americas and the autocratic realm of Europe. Monroe’s administration forewarned the imperial European powers against interfering in the affairs of the newly independent Latin American states or potential United States territories. While Americans generally objected to European colonies in the Americas, they also desired to increase United States influence and trading ties throughout the region to their south.”
Fast forward to today, and Trump’s “Donroe Doctrine,” which is directly asserted in the 2025 US National Security Strategy, looks and sounds like the Monroe Doctrine on steroids. It revitalizes and expands the belief that the US should exert overarching control over the Western hemisphere… precisely because we are so “exceptional” and powerful. It also asserts our perfect “right” to dominate and, in effect, rule the entire hemisphere.
A dark stew of arrogance, racism, and white supremacy
As I explored these interrelated American beliefs and doctrines, certain overt themes and similarities became glaringly obvious. Far from holding the US up as a benevolent, caring “beacon for humanity,” these themes and similarities revolve around white supremacy, extreme arrogance, racism, and willful aggression — all “justified” by our supposed “divine mission.”
At bottom, “American exceptionalism,” belief in America’s “manifest destiny,” the Monroe Doctrine, and today’s “Donroe Doctrine” all have two primary things in common: they are all bent on overt conquest and/or domination, and they carry and encourage strong racist, white supremacist attitudes. Plus, they arrogantly insist that US policies and actions are part of a “divine mission” — and are thus unassailable. They reek of imperialism and deep-seated racism.
So, I’m forced to conclude that the overall US belief in “American exceptionalism,” including all the variations mentioned above, is inherently immoral, unethical, uber-aggressive, and violence-promoting.
There have been times in US history — especially the period between World War II and the early 1980s — when the US (briefly) lived up to its promise and its self-promoted reputation as a beacon of hope and freedom. For a short while, the US was truly exceptional — in a good way. For a short while, in the second half of the 20th century, the US was deeply respected and even revered around the world.
But with the rise and triumph of MAGA and “Trumpism,” the US lost all of its positive momentum — and positive image. And no wonder, for we are steadily reverting to and expanding on our racist, aggressive, domination-oriented past. Today, justice, fairness, racial equality, and equal opportunity are all declining or fading, while extreme oligarchy, White supremacy, and (White) Christian Nationalism are rising fast.
Perhaps my earlier assessment of “American exceptionalism” as one part positive to five parts negative was too generous. In reality, an accurate ratio might be closer to one part positive to ten parts negative.
This is nothing to be proud of. “American exceptionalism” has always been a major, ongoing cause of horrific moral, ethical, and humanitarian lapses and disasters. We are usually not the “good guys” we imagine ourselves to be. In fact, today we’re morphing — rapidly — into a highly dangerous rogue nation.
If we can’t or won’t turn things around in our country, the US may go down in history as an exceptionally arrogant, aggressive, and even evil nation.
—
This post was previously published on MEDIUM.COM.
—
If you believe in the work we are doing here at The Good Men Project, please join us as a Premium Member today.
All Premium Members get to view The Good Men Project with NO ADS.
Need more info? A complete list of benefits is here.
—
Photo credit: iStock.com
Every large country in the world, most of the medium-sized ones, and many of the smaller ones are products of expansion at the expense of their neighbors. They are all to some degree the result of empire-building. The U.S. is not unusual in that regard. This is not a justification of aggression, but it is a fact. Both extremes of American exceptionalism are powered by an ignorance of world history.