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Amid escalating US-Venezuela tensions, Donald Trump has confirmed speaking with President Nicolás Maduro as reports of a military threat intensify.
Trump Warns Maduro to Step Down or Face Possible US Military Action, Says Report
US President Donald Trump confirmed on Sunday that he had spoken with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, even as reports intensified regarding an ultimatum allegedly delivered to the Venezuelan leader.
Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump acknowledged the call but declined to elaborate. “I don’t want to comment on it. The answer is yes,” he told reporters when asked about the conversation.
The New York Times earlier reported that the two leaders had spoken earlier this month and had discussed the possibility of a future meeting in the United States. Trump described the exchange as neutral, saying, “I wouldn’t say it went well or badly; it was a phone call.”
US-Venezuela crisis
The confirmation followed a Wall Street Journal report alleging that Trump had told Maduro to step down voluntarily or face the prospect of US military action. According to the report, delivered during a hotline conversation on 22 November, Trump warned that Maduro could take the “easy way or the hard way,” offering safe passage abroad should he resign.
Washington has intensified pressure on Caracas in recent months, accusing Maduro of links to drug trafficking operations that have allegedly contributed to American deaths. Maduro has firmly denied these accusations, while tensions continue to rise.
Trump further unsettled observers on Saturday by declaring that Venezuela’s airspace should be considered “closed in its entirety.” Though lacking legal authority to enforce such a measure, the statement caused immediate alarm. Several airlines suspended flights to Caracas, and Venezuelan officials condemned the message as a “colonialist threat.”
When asked whether his remarks signalled imminent US strikes, Trump replied, “Don’t read anything into it.”
US military in Caribbean
Meanwhile, US military activity in the Caribbean has increased significantly. Washington had been considering options that included attempting to overthrow Maduro, supported by a major military buildup in the region. Over three months, US forces have carried out numerous strikes on boats they claim were transporting narcotics. Human rights groups have criticised the operations as extrajudicial killings, and some US allies have warned that Washington may be breaching international law.
Trump said he would examine whether US forces conducted a second strike in September that killed survivors of an earlier attack, adding that such an action was not something he would have authorised.
Maduro and senior Venezuelan officials have avoided addressing the reported ultimatum. Jorge Rodríguez, head of the National Assembly, refused to comment on the call during a press conference, instead announcing an inquiry into US strikes in the Caribbean.
Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior Sub‑Editor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influenced public…Read More
Shuddhanta Patra, a seasoned journalist with eight years of experience, serves as Senior Sub‑Editor at CNN News 18. With expertise across national politics, geopolitics, business news, she has influenced public… Read More
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
December 01, 2025, 07:15 IST
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