President Trump made clear on Friday that hostile dictators will not be given the soft treatment they enjoyed under previous administrations. During a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the President reacted to news that Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro is begging Washington to halt military escalation by offering concessions.
A reporter informed Trump that Maduro had “offered everything” in a plea to stop U.S. strikes on cartel-linked vessels in international waters. Trump did not deny it.
“He has offered everything,” Trump said. “He doesn’t want to f*** around with the United States.”
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The blunt warning followed weeks of rising tensions as the United States has carried out a series of strikes on boats believed to be tied to Venezuelan drug cartels. According to NBC 4 Los Angeles, U.S. Navy helicopters were recently deployed for search-and-rescue after one such strike in the Caribbean. At least 21 cartel operatives have been killed in four prior strikes.
Maduro, under pressure, appealed for peace in remarks reported by Sky News, urging the United States to turn away from what he called “failed eternal wars” after Trump signaled he was prepared to hit cartel targets on Venezuelan soil.
Maduro has ruled since 2013 while crushing dissent, rigging elections, and aligning with Russia and other American adversaries. His regime has been widely condemned for corruption, drug trafficking, and human rights abuses. Trump reminded reporters he is not afraid to use covert or direct action when U.S. security is at stake. Earlier this week, he confirmed that he authorized the CIA to take action in Venezuela.
When asked why he green-lit the agency’s involvement, Trump said there were two reasons, beginning with the fact that Caracas has “emptied their prisons into the United States of America,” allowing violent criminals to flood the southern border.
Unlike the Biden era of empty diplomacy and toothless “red lines,” the Trump administration is sending a simple, unmistakable message to hostile regimes and narco-states: the days of testing U.S. resolve are over. Even Maduro appears to understand that reality.
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