President Donald Trump stated in an NBC News interview that he does not rule out military action against Venezuela, following the U.S. blockade of sanctioned oil tankers earlier this week. The comments accompany new details on air strikes, bounties, and diplomatic overtures amid heightened U.S. pressure on Nicolás Maduro's government.
Building on Tuesday's U.S. blockade of sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers—announced after last week's seizure of a major vessel—President Donald Trump indicated openness to further escalation. In a Thursday phone interview with NBC News, Trump said of potential war, “I don’t rule it out, no.”
The U.S. has intensified operations, with the Department of War conducting air strikes that destroyed over two dozen alleged drug boats and eliminated more than 100 suspected smugglers. Trump plans additional tanker seizures, describing the prior capture as “the largest one ever seized.” He reiterated demands for Venezuela to return 'stolen' U.S. oil, land, and assets, echoing his Truth Social post about a massive naval armada surrounding the country.
Trump has labeled Maduro's regime terrorist-linked, designating him head of the Cartel de los Soles and offering a $50 million bounty for information leading to his arrest. While demurring on directly ousting Maduro, Trump referenced a recent phone call where they discussed a possible Washington meeting, stating, “He knows exactly what I want.”
Separately, Belarus's president proposed sanctuary for Maduro if he yields to U.S. pressure. The White House provided no further details on the standoff's timeline.
