Trump and Maduro: the Caribbean is a powder keg.

It may be Maduro’s last ‘tough guy act’.

The conflict between the US and Venezuela has evolved from an anti-drug operation to a siege involving sanctioned tankers, oil reserves, and the future of the Bolivarian Socialist Republic.

Monday (22), US President Donald J. Trump told the press that ‘it would be smart’ for Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro to leave power.

#Trump on #Venezuela: Asked if the goal is to push Maduro from power “I think it probably would… it’d be smart for him to do that.” The message is clear: Maduro should go @USAmbEU
pic.twitter.com/VjK0ozqo8A

— Nelson Dordelly Rosales, Ph.D/LL.D (@nelsondordelly) December 22, 2025

Trump also said that the United States ‘could keep or sell’ the oil seized off the coast of Venezuela in recent days.

Reuters reported:

“Trump’s pressure campaign on Maduro has included a ramped-up military presence in the region and more than two dozen military strikes on vessels allegedly trafficking drugs in the Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea near the South American nation. At least 100 people have been killed in the attacks.

Asked if the goal was to force Maduro from power, Trump told reporters: ‘Well, I think it probably would… That’s up to him what he wants to do. I think it’d be smart for him to do that. But again, we’re gonna find out’.”

JUST IN: Trump threatenes Maduro:

“If he wants to do something, if he plays tough, it’ll be the last time he’s ever able to play tough” pic.twitter.com/7uvkkDkiOn

— Mega Geopolitics (@MegaGeopolitics) December 22, 2025

Trump also hinted at the possibility of Maduro getting taken out of the chessboard entirely.

“‘If he wants to do something, if he plays tough, it’ll be the last time he’s ever able to play tough’, he said.”

President Trump on Colombian President Gustavo Petro: “He has to watch because he’s got drug factories… He’s no friend to the United States… very bad guy and he’s gotta watch his a$$ because he makes c*caine, and they send it into the United States of America from Colombia.”… pic.twitter.com/6V2zg5AGPP

— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) December 22, 2025

Trump also slammed unfriendly Colombian President Gustavo Petro.

“’He’s no friend to the United States. He’s very bad. Very bad guy. He’s gotta watch his ass because he makes cocaine and they send it into the US’, Trump said when asked about Petro’s criticisms towards the Trump administration’s handling of the tensions with Venezuela.”

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