Donald Trump has dismissed claims that the United States is preparing for war with Venezuela, while signaling that Nicolás Maduro’s presidency could be nearing 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 increases strikes on Caribbean drug-smuggling vessels
Trump’s comments come as Washington steps up attacks on boats suspected of smuggling drugs across the Caribbean. Officials say the operations aim to block narcotics from reaching the United States. Critics argue the campaign is designed to weaken Maduro’s government. Trump rejected that, saying the operations serve “many purposes.”
Since early September, at least 64 people have died in US strikes across the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, according to American media reports. Speaking from his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, Trump defended the operations, claiming each destroyed vessel prevents “25,000 deaths from drugs” and protects families nationwide.
Trump avoids confirming possible strikes on land
Asked if he might authorize attacks on Venezuelan territory, Trump refused to give a direct 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 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 source of criminal activity, citing the violent gang Tren de Aragua. Trump called it “the most vicious gang anywhere in the world.”
Nuclear weapons testing back on 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 more than 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 said the US cannot be “the only country that doesn’t test,” citing 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 prolonged government shutdown
Trump also discussed the US government shutdown, now lasting more than a month and affecting millions of Americans. 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.
CBS lawsuit continues to resonate
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 later agreed to pay $16 million (£13.5 million) to settle the lawsuit, directing the funds 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 program an interview during the 2024 election campaign.
