Trump: ‘I Don’t Think’ U.S. Will Go to War with Venezuela

U.S. President Donald Trump has dismissed the likelihood of a U.S. war with Venezuela but hinted that President Nicolás Maduro’s grip on power may be nearing its end.

In a wide-ranging interview with CBS’ 60 Minutes, Trump said he doubted a war was imminent, despite one of the largest U.S. military buildups in the Caribbean in decades. “I doubt it. I don’t think so. But they’ve been treating us very badly,” he said, striking a tone that mixed restraint with warning.

Over recent months, the U.S. military has deployed a formidable presence near Venezuelan waters — including warships, bombers, marines, drones, and surveillance aircraft — officially aimed at combating drug trafficking. The Trump administration insists the operation targets narcotics networks funneling drugs into the U.S., not regime change.

“This is about many things,” Trump said when asked whether the campaign was a pretext to oust Maduro, a longtime adversary. According to CBS News, at least 64 people have been killed in U.S. strikes on alleged drug-smuggling boats across the Caribbean and eastern Pacific since September.

Trump, speaking from his Mar-a-Lago residence, defended the campaign’s intensity. “Every single boat that you see that’s shot down kills 25,000 on drugs and destroys families all over our country,” he said — a dramatic estimate intended to underscore the stakes.

Pressed on whether the U.S. could launch land strikes, Trump declined to rule them out. “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,” he added, leaving the door open to escalation.

Military sources confirmed that B-52 bombers have conducted “attack demonstrations” off Venezuela’s coast, while the CIA has increased its presence in the region. The world’s largest aircraft carrier has also been dispatched to the area — a move that regional leaders have viewed with suspicion.

Maduro has accused Washington of “fabricating a new war,” while Colombian President Gustavo Petro warned the U.S. against using anti-drug operations to “dominate Latin America.”

Trump also used the interview to address wider security concerns, singling out the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua as “the most vicious gang anywhere in the world,” and linking it to migration flows into the U.S. “They come from all over the world... but Venezuela in particular has been bad,” he said.

Turning to nuclear policy, Trump revived controversy by suggesting the U.S. might resume nuclear testing for the first time in over 30 years. “We’re going to test nuclear weapons like other countries do, yes,” he told interviewer Norah O’Donnell — a claim later softened by Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who said no nuclear detonations were planned.

The conversation also veered into domestic politics, as Trump blamed Democrats for the prolonged government shutdown. Calling them “crazed lunatics,” he insisted they would eventually “capitulate” and vote to end the impasse.

The 60 Minutes appearance marked Trump’s first with the network since his 2024 lawsuit against its parent company, Paramount, over what he called a “politically edited” interview with then–Vice President Kamala Harris. Paramount settled for $16 million, to be directed toward Trump’s planned presidential library.

Trump last appeared on the program in 2020, famously walking out mid-interview over claims of bias.