Trump Reminds Business Leaders of MacArthur’s Legacy

On October 28, 2025, while addressing business leaders in Tokyo, President Donald Trump highlighted an often-overlooked aspect of history. He shared, “Many people don’t know about General Douglas MacArthur! The moment peace was signed 80 years ago… he actually wrote the Constitution here and did it all himself. He was an intellectual.” While critics dismissed his comments as typical Trump hyperbole, he wasn’t entirely off base. After Japan’s defeat in World War II—marked by the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki—MacArthur took a bold step. Drawing inspiration from the American Founding Fathers, he told his team to draft a new constitution for Japan in just a week.

The MacArthur Constitution, finalized in February 1946, emphasized natural rights and equality. It established checks and balances and became the longest-standing unamended constitution globally, helping Japan shift from devastation to a thriving democracy. MacArthur received an outpouring of gratitude, with over 500,000 letters from Japanese citizens who viewed him as a liberator and trusted him more than their own leaders to help them out of despair.

Terms like “regime change” and “nation-building” are often viewed unfavorably in Washington today. Yet, the drive to assist others in achieving freedom and democracy has been part of America’s ethos since its inception. Thomas Jefferson, back in 1780, referred to the U.S. as an “Empire of Liberty,” emphasizing the nation’s role in promoting freedom worldwide, even if it meant intervening in foreign affairs.

Nearly three decades later, Jefferson, reflecting on the U.S. Constitution, shared with James Madison that it was uniquely suited for an expansive empire and self-governance. This ongoing commitment to imperialism through freedom has greatly influenced America’s approach to aiding other nations in establishing democratic systems reflecting their constitutions.

Recent protests on campuses against Israel have drawn comments from university leaders, pointing fingers at foreign influences like Iran. Meanwhile, President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio grapple with challenges in Iran, Lebanon, Syria, Gaza, Venezuela, and Cuba. As they manage these crises, many Americans—especially Trump supporters—might be looking at Japan’s successes under MacArthur compared to the U.S.’s complicated military engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Following a successful military operation involving the B-2 bomber, Trump mentioned on Truth Social, “It’s politically incorrect to use the term ‘regime change,’ but if the current Iranian regime can’t make Iran great again, why not regime change???” At a NATO summit, he drew parallels between attacking Iran’s nuclear sites and the bombings of Japan, stating, “I don’t want to use the Hiroshima example or the Nagasaki example, but they were essentially the same thing.”

Not everyone echoed Trump’s sentiments initially. Charlie Kirk, a supporter, voiced skepticism on social media, questioning the rationale behind U.S.-led regime changes and mentioned countries like Iraq, Libya, and Syria. However, after the successful destruction of Iranian nuclear facilities without American casualties, he changed his view, expressing relief over the mission’s safe completion.

If Iran’s Islamic regime holds on under Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu’s leadership, the threat to the U.S. and its allies could resurface, jeopardizing a nearly dismantled terrorist network. The situations in Venezuela, Syria, and beyond echo similar threats.

Within Iran, many pro-American citizens are already striving for change. Amid the recent violence, many Iranian citizens looked to Trump and Netanyahu for guidance, even as calls for demonstrations by the late shah’s son went largely ignored. Following warnings from Trump to evacuate Tehran, reports surfaced of severe traffic issues and gas shortages, with nearly 9 million people leaving major cities.

Instead of military intervention, it may be more effective for President Trump to support a constitutional assembly among Iranian opposition groups to draft a unified constitution. Such an approach could facilitate a peaceful transition, allowing Iranians to lead the change themselves.

As America approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026, aiding those who align with its values could represent a vital mission. The solution lies not in failed models of state-building from bureaucrats but in Jefferson’s vision and MacArthur’s drive to empower free nations inspired by American principles of freedom, equality, and self-governance.