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President Trump said that he has “sort of made up” his mind on how to proceed with the United States’ policy toward Venezuela after holding a series of meetings this week with senior military officials to discuss potential options against Caracas.
“I sort of made up my mind,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One when asked about the situation, The Hill reported. “I can’t tell you what it is, but we made a lot of progress with Venezuela in terms of stopping drugs from pouring in.”
Trump and senior administration officials have sharply escalated their rhetoric toward Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, labeling him an “illegitimate leader” and accusing him of overseeing a drug-smuggling network — allegations Maduro has repeatedly denied.
Throughout the week, Trump received a series of briefings at the White House from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and other top military leaders outlining potential U.S. options toward Venezuela, including possible land-based strikes, according to administration officials.
Separately, since early September the administration has intensified operations targeting what it describes as narcotics-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific. U.S. forces have struck 20 boats and killed at least 80 people, whom the administration has characterized as “narco-terrorists.”
The United States has significantly increased its military presence in the U.S. Southern Command region, deploying warships, Marines, fighter aircraft, surveillance planes, and other assets as part of what officials describe as an effort to curb narcotics trafficking and protect U.S. national security.
On Thursday, Hegseth announced the launch of a new military and intelligence initiative in the Western Hemisphere, named “Operation Southern Spear,” which he said is aimed at targeting and dismantling “narco-terrorist” networks operating within the Southcom area, The Hill added.
Trump signaled during his interview on CBS’s “60 Minutes” that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro may soon face consequences, suggesting Maduro’s “days are numbered.”
Trump has previously floated the possibility of launching military strikes against Venezuela but has not acted on those discussions.
“At a minimum, Secretary Hegseth’s announcement continues to emphasize the Trump administration’s narrative that these maritime strikes are somehow related to counterterrorism,” Brian Finucane, a senior adviser at International Crisis Group, said in an interview with The Hill on Friday.
Last month, Trump revealed that Maduro has “offered everything” in a desperate attempt to persuade the United States to halt military operations targeting suspected drug-trafficking vessels.
The President made the blunt remark using the “f-bomb” during a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, responding to a question about reports that Maduro had tried to open back-channel negotiations.
“It’s been reported, Mr. President—it has been reported that Maduro offered everything in his country, all the natural resources,” one reporter asked. “He even recorded a message to you in English recently, offering mediation. What could he do in order to stop that?”
“He has offered everything. He’s offered everything. You’re right. You know why?” the President replied. “Because he doesn’t want to f*** around with the United States.”
The comment drew gasps from the press corps and laughter from some members of the administration seated nearby. It also underscored the growing tension between Washington and Caracas as U.S. forces intensify operations against what the administration calls “narco-terrorist” networks operating from Venezuelan waters.
Maduro’s attempts to secure relief from the U.S. campaign have been detailed in recent media reports. According to those accounts, the Venezuelan leader has reached out to several foreign figures, including Pope Leo XIV, seeking diplomatic mediation.
“I have great faith that Pope Leo, as I stated in the letter I sent him, will help Venezuela preserve and achieve peace and stability,” Maduro said earlier this month, following a wave of successful U.S. strikes on vessels linked to drug cartels.
