Donald Trump has dismissed fears of a US war with Venezuela while suggesting 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 expands strikes on drug-smuggling operations
Trump’s comments come as Washington intensifies attacks on suspected drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean. The administration says the strikes aim to stop narcotics from reaching the United States. Critics argue the campaign is aimed at weakening Maduro. Trump rejected that notion, 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 actions, saying each destroyed vessel prevents “25,000 deaths from drugs” and protects families across the country.
Trump leaves future military action unclear
When asked if he would authorize strikes on Venezuelan soil, Trump refused to provide 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 argued that the strikes serve US ambitions to “dominate” Latin America.
Migration and gangs draw Trump’s attention
Trump also addressed migration, vowing stricter 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, naming the violent gang Tren de Aragua. Trump called it “the most vicious gang anywhere in the world.”
Nuclear testing returns to Trump’s agenda
The discussion turned 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 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 conducted official tests 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,” mentioning North Korea and Pakistan as other nations testing secretly.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright clarified that any testing would involve “non-critical explosions” to ensure nuclear weapons’ components function properly.
Democrats blamed for government shutdown
Trump also spoke about the ongoing US government shutdown, now stretching beyond a month and leaving millions without vital services. He blamed Democrats, 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.
Network lawsuit still resonates
This interview marked Trump’s first appearance on CBS 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, 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.
