President Donald Trump has cast doubt on the prospect of the United States going to war with Venezuela, stating in a televised interview that he does not believe such a conflict will happen. Nonetheless, he indicated that the days of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro are numbered, as the US continues its military operations in the Caribbean.
Trump’s remarks were delivered during an appearance on CBS’s 60 Minutes, which aired on Sunday. When asked directly if the US was heading towards war with Venezuela, the president responded, “I doubt it. I don’t think so,” but he quickly added that Venezuela has been “treating us very badly.” This interview marked his first with CBS since a legal dispute over a previous segment, and it covered a range of topics from foreign policy to domestic issues.
The backdrop to these comments is an escalation of US military activity in the region, including multiple strikes on boats alleged to be involved in drug trafficking. Since early September, the US has conducted over 15 such strikes, resulting in at least 64 fatalities, according to CBS News. The Trump administration justifies these actions as necessary to stem the flow of drugs into the United States, but critics question the legality and evidence behind the targets.
In the interview, Trump vehemently defended the strikes, asserting that each destroyed boat prevents 25,000 drug-related deaths and protects American families from the scourge of narcotics. He rejected the idea that the operations are primarily about regime change in Caracas, instead describing them as addressing “many things,” including security threats from Venezuelan gangs like Tren de Aragua, which he called “the most vicious gang anywhere in the world.”
When probed on whether the US might expand its military actions to include land-based strikes in Venezuela, Trump refused to provide clarity, saying, “I’m not gonna tell you what I’m gonna do with Venezuela.” This ambiguity has fueled speculation about potential further escalation, especially as the US has been amassing military units, including warships and fighter jets, in the Caribbean.
The interview also delved into Trump’s recent announcement about resuming nuclear weapons testing. He claimed that Russia and China are conducting underground tests without public disclosure and insisted that the US must test “like other countries do” to avoid falling behind. However, his energy secretary, Chris Wright, later downplayed this, stating that any tests would be “non-critical explosions” focused on weapon systems rather than actual nuclear detonations.
Regional reactions to the US actions have been sharply critical. Maduro has accused Washington of using drug trafficking as a pretext for “imposing regime change” to gain control of Venezuela’s oil reserves. Similarly, Colombian President Gustavo Petro has argued that the strikes are a tool for US domination in Latin America, highlighting the diplomatic tensions arising from the military maneuvers.
Beyond Venezuela, Trump addressed the prolonged US government shutdown, now in its fifth week, blaming “crazed lunatic” Democrats for the stalemate but expressing belief that they will eventually agree to end it. He also commented on immigration, alleging that enforcement has been insufficient and emphasizing the need to stop unauthorized entries, particularly from countries like Venezuela.
The mixed messages from Trump—downplaying war while hinting at Maduro’s imminent departure—create uncertainty about the administration’s strategic goals. With ongoing military operations and no clear resolution in sight, the situation remains volatile, and the international community is closely monitoring for any signs of further intervention or de-escalation in Venezuela.