The purpose of the Guatemalan coup d'état in 1954 was to overthrow the democratically elected president, Jacobo Árbenz. The U.S. government, concerned about Árbenz's agrarian reform policies that threatened American interests, particularly the United Fruit Company, orchestrated the coup. Through covert operations led by the CIA, including disinformation campaigns and the support of local military forces, the U.S. facilitated the rise of a military dictatorship. This intervention aimed to curb perceived communist influences in Central America and maintain U.S. economic interests, leaving lasting repercussions on Guatemalan politics and society.