White House Commemorates War with Mexico as Origin of Military Power & Territorial Expansion

ByLa Jornada Editorial Board

This article originally appeared in the February 3, 2026 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier left wing daily newspaper.

The White House released a presidential message on the 178th anniversary of the “victory in the Mexican-American War” to commemorate the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, signed on February 2, 1848, in which the U.S. government gained 1,359,000 square kilometers of “new lands,” representing 55 percent of the pre-war territory.

The message highlighted that this anniversary is “one of the first demonstrations of our nation’s military might” that under the doctrine of Manifest Destiny the United States “reaffirmed its sovereignty and extended the promise of American independence throughout our majestic continent.”

“Today marks the 178th anniversary of our nation’s triumph in the Mexican-American War, a legendary victory that secured the American Southwest, reaffirmed American sovereignty, and extended the promise of American independence across our majestic continent,” the text states.

“Guided by the firm conviction that our nation was destined by divine providence to expand to the golden shores of the Pacific Ocean, following the bloody War of 1812, the United States moved confidently westward and boldly emerged as a continental superpower unprecedented in the modern world. The people of Texas declared their independence from Mexico in 1836 and, by the spring of 1846, voted to join the United States, forcing a reckoning over outstanding border disputes. That April, Mexican forces launched an ambush along the Rio Grande, killing 11 American soldiers and wounding 6,” he added.

“With the promise of Manifest Destiny beating in every American heart, President James K. Polk acted swiftly to defend our nation’s security, our dignity, and our sovereign borders. In May 1846, the United States declared war on Mexico, with two American titans, Generals Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott, leading the offensive. Despite being vastly outnumbered in battle, American forces consistently emerged victorious thanks to their superior military strategy, modern military capabilities, and unwavering devotion to protecting the national interest,” the document continued.

President Donald Trump asserted that since taking office as the 47th President of the United States, “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.”

He reiterated that his administration is halting the flow of deadly drugs allegedly entering our country through Mexico, ending the “invasion” of undocumented migrants at the southern border, and dismantling narco-terrorist networks throughout the Western Hemisphere.