John Feeley, who was regarded as one of the state department’s top Latin America experts until he resigned from his job in Panama during Trump’s first term, said he was horrified but not surprised by Trump’s moves.
The former US ambassador to Panama has launched a stinging critique of Donald Trump’s approach towards Latin America, comparing his conduct to that of the ruthless and egotistical fictional mob boss Tony Soprano.
But if Trump was channeling Tony Soprano in his treatment of Latin America, Feeley believed he was also channeling Trump.
“His vision of a ‘Great America’ is an America that sits in its sphere of influence, king in its own castle, and exploiting parts of the world for American gain, such as $500bn in Ukrainian rare earths,” said the diplomat who also served in Colombia, the Dominican Republic and Mexico during a 28-year state department career.
“He sold them down the river after they gave him their vote,” the former ambassador said of the Venezuelan Americans who backed Trump in the 2024 US election hoping he would help rid their country of Maduro.
