Donald Trump has rejected suggestions that the United States plans to go to war with Venezuela, while warning that Nicolás Maduro’s presidency could be near its end. Speaking to CBS’ 60 Minutes, Trump said: “I doubt it. I don’t think so. But they’ve been treating us very badly.”
US escalates strikes against Caribbean drug-smuggling boats
Trump’s remarks come as Washington increases attacks on vessels suspected of smuggling drugs in the Caribbean. The administration insists the strikes aim to block narcotics from reaching the United States. Critics argue the operation targets Maduro’s government. Trump denied that, saying the missions serve “many purposes.”
Since early September, at least 64 people have died in US strikes in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, according to American media reports. Speaking from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump defended the campaign, saying each destroyed vessel prevents “25,000 deaths from drugs” and protects American families nationwide.
Trump avoids confirming potential strikes on land
Asked if he would authorize strikes on Venezuelan soil, Trump refused to provide details. “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,” he said.
Maduro accused Washington of “creating a new war,” while Colombian President Gustavo Petro warned that the US is using the strikes to “dominate” Latin America.
Migration and Venezuelan gangs under Trump’s scrutiny
Trump also addressed migration, promising stronger border enforcement. “They come in from the Congo, they come in from all over the world, not just from South America,” he said. He singled out Venezuela as a major source of criminal activity, highlighting the violent gang Tren de Aragua. Trump called it “the most vicious gang anywhere in the world.”
Nuclear weapons testing back on the agenda
The interview turned to nuclear weapons after Trump renewed calls for the US to resume testing. Asked if the US would detonate a nuclear device for the first time in over 30 years, he said: “We’re going to test nuclear weapons like other countries do, yes.”
He added: “Russia’s testing, and China’s testing, but they don’t talk about it.” Though both countries have not officially tested since the 1990s, Trump said, “They don’t go and tell you about it.” He said the US cannot be “the only country that doesn’t test,” including North Korea and Pakistan in the list of nations testing secretly.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright clarified that any testing would involve “non-critical explosions” to ensure nuclear weapons’ internal systems work correctly.
Trump blames Democrats for shutdown crisis
Trump also addressed the ongoing US government shutdown, which has lasted over a month and disrupted services for millions of Americans. He blamed Democrats, calling them “crazed lunatics” who have “lost their way.” He said he expects them to eventually vote to reopen the government. “And if they don’t vote, that’s their problem,” he said.
Lawsuit with network remains in focus
This was Trump’s first CBS interview since he sued its parent company, Paramount, over a 2024 broadcast with then Vice President Kamala Harris. He accused the network of editing the segment to “favor the Democratic Party.”
Paramount agreed to pay $16 million (£13.5 million) to settle the lawsuit, with funds directed to Trump’s planned presidential library rather than to him personally. The settlement did not include an apology.
Trump last appeared on 60 Minutes in 2020, when he walked out of an interview with journalist Lesley Stahl, claiming bias. He refused to grant the network an interview during the 2024 election campaign.
