Senator Bernie Moreno said that President Donald Trump is unleashing a new wave of conservatism across Latin America in a conversation on Thursday with Breitbart News Editor-in-Chief Alex Marlow.

Senator Moreno joined Breitbart News in Washington, D.C., for a wide-ranging discussion of Trump administration policies alongside Vice President JD Vance and other leading political figures. The event was held in partnership with CGCN and the ALFA Institute.

Asked by Marlow if it was a surprise that the Trump administration is taking Latin American issues seriously, Senator Moreno answered that he is very pleasantly surprised. He highlighted that what President Trump is doing in Latin America hasn’t been done since really President James Monroe, and you can say a little bit President Theodore Roosevelt.

Senator Moreno stressed that America needs to take the western Hemisphere seriously.

“What President Trump is saying is very simple. If you want to poison American citizens, we’re going to kill you first. If you want to kill Americans, we’re going to kill you first. We’re not going to allow narcoterrorism. We’re not going to allow international criminal gangs.”

The Ohio senator continued explaining Trump’s approach to the region.

“The idea that Hezbollah and Chinese gangs have a presence in Latin America, we’re going to turn a blind eye on that? That’s insane. So what he [Trump] is doing is unleashing a wave of conservative movement in Latin America that will pay massive, massive dividends, because it’s going to end illegal migration. It’s going to allow us to be self-sufficient.”

Senator Moreno emphasized the cultural connections between the United States and Latin America.

“We have cultural similarities much more so in Latin America, of course, with Asia or anywhere else. So let’s take advantage of this hemisphere. From the tip of Argentina to the tip of Canada, have this incredible bilateral relationship where America leads and America benefits.”

The senator’s comments reveal a major shift in how the Trump administration views America’s relationship with countries in Central and South America. For decades, U.S. policy toward Latin America has been inconsistent and often focused on narrow issues without a broader strategic vision.

Trump is taking a different approach by treating Latin America as a region of vital importance to American security and prosperity. The president recognizes that threats from narcoterrorists, international criminal gangs, and foreign adversaries operating in the Western Hemisphere directly impact American citizens.

Senator Moreno’s comparison to Presidents Monroe and Roosevelt is significant. The Monroe Doctrine established that European powers should not interfere in the Americas. Theodore Roosevelt built on this by asserting American power and influence throughout the region.

Trump’s strategy appears to combine security concerns with economic opportunity. By helping to unleash a conservative wave across Latin America, the administration hopes to create more stable, pro-American governments that will cooperate on issues like border security and drug trafficking.

The presence of Hezbollah and Chinese criminal gangs in Latin America represents a serious threat that previous administrations largely ignored. These organizations use the region as a base to move drugs, weapons, and people into the United States.

Trump’s blunt warning that America will kill narcoterrorists before they poison Americans marks a dramatic escalation in rhetoric and likely policy. The president is making clear that the United States will take preemptive action against threats in the region rather than waiting for attacks on American soil.

Senator Moreno believes this approach will end illegal migration by addressing root causes in Latin American countries. When conservative governments take hold and work with the United States to fight crime and improve economies, fewer people will feel the need to flee north.

The strategy also aims to make America more self-sufficient by strengthening economic ties throughout the hemisphere. Rather than relying on Asia for manufacturing and trade, the United States can build stronger partnerships with neighbors who share cultural similarities.

The bilateral relationship Senator Moreno describes would have America leading but also benefiting from cooperation with Latin American nations. This represents a vision of the Western Hemisphere working together under American leadership to promote security, prosperity, and shared values.

Trump’s focus on Latin America comes as China has been expanding its influence in the region through investment and political pressure. By taking Latin America seriously and offering an alternative vision, the administration hopes to counter Chinese efforts and reassert American dominance in the hemisphere.

The conservative wave Senator Moreno describes could reshape politics across Latin America for decades. If the Trump administration succeeds in promoting conservative governments and policies throughout the region, it would create a more stable and friendly neighborhood for the United States.