Washington D.C. — November 2, 2025 | Dalena Reporters
U.S. President Donald Trump told CBS’s “60 Minutes” that he believes Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s days in office are “numbered” amid increasing U.S. military activity near Venezuela’s waters.
Asked whether the U.S. was heading toward conflict with Venezuela, Trump replied, “I doubt it, I don’t think so,” but added: “They’ve been treating us very badly … they emptied their prisons into our country … I would say yeah. I think so, yeah.
The remarks coincide with a string of U.S. naval operations in the region, including strikes on vessels allegedly carrying drugs from Venezuela. The deployment of the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford strike group to the Caribbean has sparked speculation about whether broader military and strategic actions against Maduro’s regime are in motion.
White House officials emphasise the operations are part of a counter-narcotics initiative but acknowledge the rising pressure on the Maduro government amid accusations of narco-terrorism and mass migration flows into the U.S. Trump’s comment frames the U.S. posture as one of deterrence and a warning to Maduro, rather than an immediate plan for regime change.
Venezuelan state media dismissed the comments, with the Maduro government calling them “fabricated narratives” and warning of severe consequences if any U.S. military incursion is attempted. Experts warn that while full-scale invasion may be unlikely, the increased U.S. presence and direct statements about regime change raise the risk of destabilisation in Venezuela — and potential humanitarian fallout throughout the region.
As U.S. relations with Venezuela appear to enter a new phase, the world will be watching whether Trump’s rhetoric translates into concrete policy shifts or remains a strategic signal.