President Donald Trump met Monday with his top advisers in the Oval Office to discuss the ongoing pressure campaign on Venezuela. According to a senior U.S. official — who insisted on anonymity (because in D.C. it’s always safer to whisper than to admit Trump is actually leading) — the meeting included senior members of the national security team.
No specific details of the conversation were released, but the timing speaks for itself. The session comes as Trump steps up efforts against what the United States identifies as drug shipments flowing out of Venezuela. On Saturday, the President declared that Venezuelan airspace should be considered “closed in its entirety,” a statement that sent Caracas into a frenzy of confusion. Imagine that — accountability tends to make certain regimes a little jumpy.
Trump also confirmed on Sunday that he spoke directly with Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro — whom the U.S. rightly considers illegitimate — but declined to share details of the exchange. Given Maduro’s track record, we can safely assume it wasn’t a friendly chat about vacation plans.
The administration has been weighing its options as it confronts what it describes as Maduro’s role in supplying illegal drugs that have harmed American families. Maduro, of course, denied any connection to the drug trade — because authoritarian leaders denying the obvious is always such a shock.
Meanwhile, U.S. forces in the region continue focusing on counternarcotics operations. Since September, American troops have carried out at least 21 strikes on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean and Pacific, resulting in the deaths of at least 83 individuals tied to trafficking operations.
Reports of potential future action have grown in recent weeks as the U.S. military strengthens its presence in the Caribbean, reflecting the increasingly strained relationship with Venezuela. Through it all, President Trump is demonstrating clear leadership, standing firm against dangerous actors — and reminding the world that the United States won’t back down when American lives are at stake. A strong stance, a clear mission, and momentum on our side — always a good way to move forward.
