Donald Trump warned that he could authorize a second military incursion into Venezuela if Delcy Rodríguez fails to continue cooperating with American authorities. Although he stressed that he does not believe such action will ultimately be necessary.
In an exclusive interview with NBC News, Trump revealed that his administration had initially anticipated the possibility of deploying U.S. forces again following last weekend’s operation in Caracas. On Saturday, thanks to a large-scale operation in the Venezuelan capital, Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were captured.
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Trump doesn’t rule out a new intervention in Venezuela
The U.S. leader responded to the press’s concerns about the possibility of a new intervention. The president was emphatic in his message, as he seeks democratic freedom for the Venezuelan people.
“We’re prepared to do it,” Trump said. “In fact, we already had it planned.”
The possibility of a second intervention in Venezuela by Donald Trump faces mounting criticism. Congressional Democrats over the surprise U.S. attack in the Venezuelan capital, an operation that has intensified debate in Washington about the scope and consequences of American involvement in the country. Despite the backlash, Trump defended his approach and suggested that the current phase of U.S. engagement is focused on stabilization rather than escalation.
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Are new elections possible in Venezuela soon?
Trump also dismissed the possibility of Venezuela holding new elections in the near future, stating that the country lacks the basic conditions required for a credible vote. According to the president, elections within the next month are unrealistic given the state of the nation.
“First, we have to fix the country. You can’t hold elections. It’s impossible for people to even vote,” Trump said when asked about the prospects of a vote in the coming weeks. “No, it’s going to take time. We have to… we have to restore the country’s health.”
At the same time, Trump rejected assertions that the United States is now at war with Venezuela, framing Washington’s actions as part of a broader campaign against transnational crime rather than a conflict with the Venezuelan state.
“No, we’re not,” Trump said. “We’re at war with people who traffic drugs. We’re at war with people who empty their prisons into our country, their drug addicts and their psychiatric institutions into our country.”
The president’s remarks underscore the administration’s position that its actions in Venezuela are driven by security concerns, particularly related to drug trafficking and organized crime, rather than an intention to engage in a prolonged military conflict. For now, Trump signaled that while additional military options remain on the table, the White House hopes continued cooperation from Venezuela’s interim leadership will make further action unnecessary.
