Trump Refuses to Rule Out Escalation of Military Strikes Against Venezuela
WASHINGTON — The Venezuelan media on Monday was widely publishing statements by President Donald Trump during a CBS News “60 Minutes” interview that aired Sunday night in which the president refused to rule out military land strikes inside the South American country.
He said the United States was unlikely to go to war with Venezuela but he also said he expected Nicolas Maduro to be out soon as the country’s president.
xemptyz“I doubt it,” Trump told Norah O’Donnell about the possibility of war. “I don’t think so.”
xemptyzHe continued his criticisms of Venezuela and its president.
xemptyz“But they’ve been treating us very badly, not only on drugs,” Trump said. “They’ve dumped hundreds of thousands of people into our country that we didn’t want, people from prisons.”
xemptyzWhen O’Donnell asked whether Maduro’s days as president were numbered, Trump said, “I would say yeah. I think so, yeah.”
xemptyzTrump accuses Maduro of leading a drug trafficking network. Maduro denies the allegation.
xemptyzThe U.S. military action has created an outcry by leaders of Latin American countries. They say the aerial strikes violate international law.
xemptyzTheir complaints have won sympathizers among some members of Congress who accuse Trump of overstepping his authority.
xemptyzThree senators — Tim Kaine, D-Va., Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Adam Schiff, D-Calif. — say they support a resolution to prevent the U.S. military from attacking Venezuela without congressional approval.
xemptyzA similar proposal pending in the House has more than 30 cosponsors. One of them, Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Colo., said in a statement, “Trump does not have the legal authority to launch military strikes inside Venezuela without a specific authorization by Congress.”
xemptyzHe added, “The American people oppose being dragged into yet another endless war, this time in Venezuela, and our constitutional order demands deliberation by the U.S. Congress — period.”
xemptyzThe Trump administration argues that it can bypass the congressional authorization normally required for military action because the president is using the U.S. Navy for police action, not war.
xemptyzAnother aerial strike against a boat allegedly carrying illegal drugs killed three more people on Saturday. At least 65 of the alleged “narcoterrorists” have been killed since American warships that massed off the coast of Venezuela started destroying their boats in September.
xemptyzAsked about the possibility of attacks on suspected illegal drugmaking sites inside Venezuela, Trump said, “I’m not saying it’s true or untrue.”
xemptyzMaduro, who has been indicted on drug charges in the United States, says the Trump administration is using false drug trafficking allegations to impose “regime change” on Venezuela to seize control of its oil reserves.
xemptyzThe Venezuelan state media had not officially responded to Trump’s comments on “60 Minutes” by Monday afternoon.
xemptyzRecent surveys show most Americans believe Trump has gone too far with his policy moves.
xemptyzA Pew Research Center survey released last month showed that 69% of Americans believe Trump is exerting more power than his predecessors. Forty-nine percent of them said it was bad for the United States. Twelve percent said it was good.
xemptyzA Harvard Harris poll published in September showed 55% of respondents said the president has exceeded his authority.
Well News
November 3, 2025