Trump Administration Weighs Military Action in Venezuela, Sparks Controversy
The Trump administration is facing mounting scrutiny over its increasingly assertive approach to Venezuela, including consideration of U.S. military strikes against the South American nation – a move not undertaken against a Latin American state in over 35 years. A meeting was convened Monday evening at the White House, bringing together top generals and Cabinet officials to debate potential targets as over a dozen warships were deployed to the Caribbean Sea.
The situation is further complicated by President Trump’s mixed messaging toward Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whose leadership since 2013 has triggered a severe economic crisis and a large-scale migration wave. Trump initially warned against air traffic in Venezuelan airspace before engaging in a phone conversation with Maduro over the weekend, subsequently cautioning against speculation regarding his next steps. The possibility of military intervention has ignited alarm on Capitol Hill, with new details emerging about tactics to escalate the conflict.
The White House accuses Maduro’s government of facilitating the flow of migrants and illegal drugs across U.S. borders. In response, the administration has authorized military actions targeting maritime vessels – operating in international waters but departing from Venezuela – suspected of involvement in drug smuggling. The first such operation occurred on September 2nd, and was followed by a second strike ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth with instructions, according to a report in The Washington Post, to “kill them all.”
This report has prompted calls for “rigorous oversight” from both Republican-led House and Senate committees overseeing the Pentagon. When questioned about the second strike on Sunday, Trump stated he “wouldn’t have wanted” the military to target survivors of the initial attack, but quickly added, “but Pete said that didn’t happen. I have great confidence in Pete.” However, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Monday that Hegseth had indeed authorized multiple strikes against the target.
Leavitt explained that Hegseth acted “well within his authority and the law to ensure the boat was destroyed and the threat to the United States was eliminated,” authorizing Adm. Frank M. Bradley, commander of U.S. Special Operations Command, to carry out the operations.
Trump also confirmed a phone conversation with Maduro, but remained tight-lipped about the discussion. “I wouldn’t say it went well or badly,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One. “It was a call.” This disclosure came amidst an intensified pressure campaign against Caracas over the holiday weekend, beginning with the president’s series of warnings.
On Saturday, Trump declared the airspace above and around Venezuela “CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY,” citing concerns about the country’s hostility. When pressed on whether this signaled an imminent airstrike, Trump demurred, advising a reporter: “Don’t read anything into it.”
Experts suggest the path forward remains uncertain. Geoff Ramsey, a Venezuela expert at the Atlantic Council, noted there is no guarantee that negotiations with Maduro will lead to his removal from power, or that the Trump administration would accept any alternative outcome. “Maduro could pitch Trump on access for U.S. oil companies – possibly at the expense of Russian and Chinese competitors – without any move toward democratization in Venezuela,” Ramsey said, adding that such an outcome would disappoint those advocating for leadership change in Caracas.
Ramsey highlighted a fundamental disagreement in negotiation objectives. “A clear sticking point here is what kind of negotiations that Caracas and Washington want. The Trump administration so far has expressed interest in negotiating which flight Maduro takes out of the country,” he explained. “For Maduro, that’s clearly a nonstarter. So until we see a clear sense of flexibility from Washington and Caracas, I think this stalemate is going to continue.”
Maduro has consistently resisted calls for his departure, despite facing U.S. sanctions, widespread protests, and previous attempts during Trump’s first term to oust him. There are currently no indications of weakening support for Maduro within the Venezuelan military, nor have there been significant defections comparable to those seen in 2019.
The situation took another controversial turn when Hegseth posted an altered image on social media depicting the children’s book character Franklin the Turtle wielding a machine gun and targeting suspected drug boats. The mock book cover was titled: “A Classic Franklin Story: Franklin Targets Narco Terrorists.” Hegseth captioned the post: “For your Christmas wish list … ”
Kids Can Press, the publisher of the Franklin the Turtle books, swiftly condemned Hegseth’s use of their “beloved Canadian icon who has inspired generations of children and stands for kindness, empathy, and inclusivity.” The publisher stated they “strongly condemn any denigrating, violent, or unauthorized use of Franklin’s name or image, which directly contradicts these values.”
Further fueling regional controversy, Trump announced Friday his intention to pardon Juan Orlando Hernández, the former president of Honduras convicted last year on cocaine trafficking charges and sentenced to 45 years in U.S. prison. U.S. prosecutors alleged Hernández accepted millions of dollars in bribes to facilitate the smuggling of 400 tons of cocaine into the United States, and reportedly boasted about “stuffing drugs up the gringos’ noses.” Trump defended Hernández as a victim of political persecution, offering no supporting evidence.
The pardon sparked outrage in Latin America and raised further questions about the Trump administration’s military campaign in the region, which officials claim is focused on combating drug cartels likened to terrorist organizations like Al Qaeda. Representative Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) accused Trump of hypocrisy, stating, “Don’t tell me Donald Trump is killing people in boats in the Caribbean to stop drug trafficking,” and suggesting the military campaign may be politically motivated.
While Trump’s ultimate goals in Venezuela remain unclear, his intentions in Honduras are more apparent. Ahead of Sunday’s presidential election in Honduras, Trump endorsed conservative candidate Nasry “Tito” Asfura of the National Party, the same party as Hernández. Early results Monday indicated Asfura held a slight lead over Liberal Party candidate Salvador Nasralla.
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