Donald Trump has rejected claims that the United States plans to go to war with Venezuela but suggested Nicolás Maduro’s presidency may be close to ending. Speaking to CBS’ 60 Minutes, Trump said: “I doubt it. I don’t think so. But they’ve been treating us very badly.”
US intensifies strikes on Caribbean drug-smuggling boats
Trump’s comments come as Washington steps up attacks on vessels suspected of smuggling drugs across the Caribbean. Officials insist the strikes aim to block narcotics from reaching the United States. Critics argue the campaign targets Maduro’s government. Trump denied that, saying the operations serve “many purposes.”
Since early September, US strikes have killed at least 64 people across the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, according to American media reports. Speaking from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump defended the operations, saying each destroyed vessel prevents “25,000 deaths from drugs” and protects families nationwide.
Trump keeps future military options open
When asked if he might authorize strikes on Venezuelan territory, Trump avoided giving a clear answer. “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 the strikes serve US interests to “dominate” Latin America.
Migration and gangs draw Trump’s attention
Trump also discussed migration, pledging stronger border controls. “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, naming the gang Tren de Aragua. Trump described it as “the most vicious gang anywhere in the world.”
Nuclear weapons testing returns to Trump’s agenda
The interview shifted to nuclear weapons after Trump renewed calls for the US to resume testing. Asked if the country 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 nations have not officially tested since the 1990s, Trump said, “They don’t go and tell you about it.” He added that the US cannot be “the only country that doesn’t test,” mentioning North Korea and Pakistan as other nations conducting secret tests.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright later clarified that any testing would involve “non-critical explosions” to verify nuclear weapons’ internal systems.
Democrats blamed for government shutdown
Trump also addressed the ongoing US government shutdown, now lasting more than a month and leaving millions without vital services. He blamed Democrats for the stalemate, calling them “crazed lunatics” who have “lost their way.” He predicted they would eventually vote to reopen the government. “And if they don’t vote, that’s their problem,” he said.
Lawsuit with CBS remains in focus
This was Trump’s first CBS interview since he sued its parent company, Paramount, over a 2024 broadcast featuring 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, directing the money 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 show an interview during the 2024 election campaign.
