US President Donald Trump has warned that Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro's days are numbered, as the country teeters on the brink of collapse. The warning comes as the US deploys its largest military presence in the Caribbean in over 35 years, a show of force aimed at curbing the flow of illicit drugs and migrants from Venezuela.
The comments were made during a "60 Minutes" interview, where Trump outlined the numerous grievances he has against Maduro's regime. He accused the Venezuelan leader of flooding the US with thousands of migrants, many of whom are fleeing poor economic conditions and human rights abuses. Trump also claimed that Maduro's government was complicit in smuggling large quantities of drugs into the country.
The escalating tensions between the two nations have sparked concerns about a potential military intervention. The US has already deployed its largest warship, the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier, along with nuclear submarines, guided-missile destroyers and cruisers to the region. A total of 14 warships are now in the area, with over 10,000 troops expected to follow.
The buildup is part of a broader effort by Trump to stem the flow of illicit goods and migrants from Venezuela. The US has been working closely with regional partners to disrupt smuggling operations and improve border security.
While the exact goals of the military deployment remain unclear, Trump hinted that regime change could be on the cards without resorting to full-scale conflict. He expressed doubts about a war with Venezuela, instead suggesting that a peaceful transition might be possible.
Maria Corina Machado, a Venezuelan opposition leader who has fled the country, has also spoken out about the potential for Maduro's departure. She believes many of the millions of Venezuelans who have fled their homeland will return home if the dictator is ousted.
The situation remains volatile, with tensions between the US and Venezuela at a boiling point. The international community is watching closely as Trump's administration seeks to address the crisis in the region.
The comments were made during a "60 Minutes" interview, where Trump outlined the numerous grievances he has against Maduro's regime. He accused the Venezuelan leader of flooding the US with thousands of migrants, many of whom are fleeing poor economic conditions and human rights abuses. Trump also claimed that Maduro's government was complicit in smuggling large quantities of drugs into the country.
The escalating tensions between the two nations have sparked concerns about a potential military intervention. The US has already deployed its largest warship, the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier, along with nuclear submarines, guided-missile destroyers and cruisers to the region. A total of 14 warships are now in the area, with over 10,000 troops expected to follow.
The buildup is part of a broader effort by Trump to stem the flow of illicit goods and migrants from Venezuela. The US has been working closely with regional partners to disrupt smuggling operations and improve border security.
While the exact goals of the military deployment remain unclear, Trump hinted that regime change could be on the cards without resorting to full-scale conflict. He expressed doubts about a war with Venezuela, instead suggesting that a peaceful transition might be possible.
Maria Corina Machado, a Venezuelan opposition leader who has fled the country, has also spoken out about the potential for Maduro's departure. She believes many of the millions of Venezuelans who have fled their homeland will return home if the dictator is ousted.
The situation remains volatile, with tensions between the US and Venezuela at a boiling point. The international community is watching closely as Trump's administration seeks to address the crisis in the region.
The whole thing just seems like a mess. A strongman like Maduro causing chaos and economic collapse, and now the US is sending in troops? It's like you're trying to create a power vacuum, but without actually taking control. 
And what about the millions of people stuck in the middle of this? They just want their country to be stable and safe again. Can't we just try to find a peaceful solution here? 
14 warships? That's a lot of firepower for something that could potentially lead to human rights abuses on an epic scale 
and what about the thousands of migrants who need help too? cant they just try to work something out with colombia or some other country instead of sending in the us military 
. I don't get why Trump is so worked up over it - isn't that what leaders do? Make decisions for their country? And what does he mean by 'regime change' anyway? Does that even sound like a plan to me 
? And what about all the migrants fleeing Venezuela? Can't they just, like, have jobs or something in the US instead of coming here as refugees? 
. On one hand, you've got the US deploying all these ships and troops, which is just crazy talk 
.
.
It's like they're planning for a quick win without thinking through the consequences 
i hope it doesn't come to a point where something bad happens. and what about the migrants, they're just tryna find a better life? 
maybe we should be helping them instead of making threats? but at the same time, Maduro needs to go or somethin'... he's been doin' a lot of harm 
... I don't think anyone knows what they're doing here, ya know? Like, we have thousands of people stuck between countries, just trying to survive, and meanwhile we've got the military buildup going on... it's all very concerning 
. Trump's words are like, 'Hey, let me tell you about how mad I am at Maduro', but no one's really addressing the root issues here. The economic situation in Venezuela is insane, people are literally starving, and they're stuck with no way to get out 
... meanwhile we've got 14 warships in the Caribbean, it's like a big show of force 
just kidding kinda, but for real tho... Maduro's days are numbered? sounds like something out of a bad 90s action movie 
. I mean Trump is basically saying he's the godfather of Venezuela now, "I'm gonna make Venezuela great again" 
. And what's with all these warships? it's like they're trying to break some sorta record for most ships in the Caribbean 
. on the bright side, if Maduro gets ousted, maybe Venezuela will finally get its economy together... or at least it'll be entertaining to watch 
. But what if it doesn't work out that way? The potential consequences are just so disastrous... we need some kind of diplomatic solution, you know? 
i mean idk what ur take on this but i think we need to be careful not to jump to conclusions here. 
!!! IT'S LIKE, CAN'T WE JUST COexist FOR A CHANGE?!?! I FEEL LIKE THE US IS TRYING TO STEER VENEZUELA INTO SOME KIND OF DISASTER 
. I MEAN, I KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES WITH VENEZUELA, BUT LET'S NOT FORGET THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE LIVING THERE WHO ARE STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE 
. People are dying, lives are being ruined... it's a total humanitarian disaster 
.
. That'd be super scary 
. Maybe they can just stick to economic sanctions and diplomatic pressure? 
. If Maduro does get ousted, it's possible that millions of Venezuelans might finally get the chance to return home 
. That'd be amazing 
. Fingers crossed that everyone can stay safe and find a peaceful solution 
.
... i'm not sure if trump's plan is gonna work, but at least he's acknowledging that something needs to change. maybe it's time for venezuela to get some international help instead of just relying on the US to bail them out 
.
. And what about the millions of Venezuelans who have already fled? Will they just magically return home when Trump decides to oust Maduro? 
. I'm glad Maria Corina Machado is speaking out - it's clear that many Venezuelans are eager for change 
. Trump's words about Maduro's days being numbered are both a warning and a hope 
... will we see a peaceful transition or more chaos? My heart goes out to the innocent people caught in the middle of this crisis 
.