WASHINGTON - President Donald Trump stated in a CBS interview aired Sunday, September 6, that he anticipates the end of Nicolás Maduro‘s presidency in Venezuela, while simultaneously dismissing the likelihood of immediate U.S.military intervention. The remarks come amid heightened U.S. military activity in the Caribbean Sea.The president’s assessment carries meaningful weight as the United States increasingly pressures Maduro’s government, which faces accusations of drug trafficking and authoritarian rule. Venezuela’s political and economic crisis has triggered a mass exodus of citizens, destabilizing the region and raising humanitarian concerns. The future of Venezuela’s vast oil reserves-among the largest globally-also hangs in the balance, impacting international energy markets.Trump responded to a question on “60 minutes” regarding potential war with Venezuela with a firm, “I doubt it.I don’t believe it.” Though, when directly asked if Maduro’s time in office was nearing its end, he affirmed, “I would say yes. I think so, yes.”
these statements follow a series of recent U.S. actions in the caribbean, including the deployment of military personnel and vessels.Authorities report at least 15 engagements with suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific regions since early September, resulting in at least 65 fatalities as of Saturday.
Maduro has consistently denounced these actions as a pretext for U.S.-led regime change, alleging Washington’s true objective is control of Venezuela’s oil resources. Critics have raised concerns about the legality of the U.S. operations, with some experts characterizing them as extrajudicial killings, even when targeting individuals identified as drug traffickers. To date,the U.S. government has not publicly released evidence substantiating claims that those targeted were actively engaged in narcotics smuggling or posed a direct threat to the United States.
