'Don't Think So': Trump Rejects Claims US Will Go To War With Venezuela

Last Updated:November 03, 2025, 18:49 IST

Trump downplays US war with Venezuela but hints Nicolás Maduro's days are numbered, amid major US military buildup and strikes on drug boats in the Caribbean Sea.

Tensions have escalated between US President Donald Trump and Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro. (Reuters)

US President Donald Trump played down possibility of a US war with Venezuela while suggesting Nicolás Maduro’s days as the country’s president were numbered.

Responding to a question on whether US was going to war against Venezuela, the US president told CBS’ 60 Minutes: “I doubt it. I don’t think so. But they’ve been treating us very badly."

For past two months, the US military has built a force of warships, fighter jets, bombers, marines, drones and spy planes in the Caribbean Sea. It is the largest deployment there for decades.

Meanwhile, the US continues to launch strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean.

The US on Sunday issued orders barring military officials from discussing strikes on drug boats with Congress without approval.

According to a report by CNN, the Office of Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has disseminated a broad list of topics that Defense Department personnel are now required to seek prior approval on before engaging with Congress, which includes any and all “sensitive military operations" and US military strikes on suspected drug boats around Latin America.

Meanwhile, Trump has rejected suggestions that US’s move was not about stopping narcotics, but aimed at ousting Maduro, a long-time Trump opponent, saying it was about “many things".

Speaking from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump said: “Every single boat that you see that’s shot down kills 25,000 on drugs and destroys families all over our country."

Pushed on whether the US was planning any strikes on land, Trump said: “I wouldn’t be inclined to say that I would do that… I’m not gonna tell you what I’m gonna do with Venezuela, if I was gonna do it or if I wasn’t going to do it."

According to BBC, Maduro has previously accused Washington of “fabricating a new war", while Colombian President Gustavo Petro has said the strikes on boats are being used by the US to “dominate" Latin America.

BBC quoted Trump as saying that the government was “not going to allow" people “from all over the world" to come in.

“They come in from the Congo, they come in from all over the world, they’re coming, not just from South America. But Venezuela in particular – has been bad. They have gangs," he said, singling out Tren de Aragua. He called it “the most vicious gang anywhere in the world".

News world 'Don't Think So': Trump Rejects Claims US Will Go To War With Venezuela

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