Donald Trump has dismissed concerns that the United States will go to war with Venezuela, while suggesting that President Nicolás Maduro’s leadership may be coming to an 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 operations
Trump’s comments come as the United States steps up attacks on suspected drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean. Officials insist the strikes aim to prevent narcotics from entering the country. Critics argue the campaign targets Maduro’s government, a long-time Trump adversary. The former president rejected that claim, 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, claiming each destroyed vessel prevents “25,000 deaths from drugs” and protects American families.
Trump keeps future military actions ambiguous
Asked if he would authorize attacks on Venezuelan territory, Trump refused to give 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 are part of a US strategy to “dominate” Latin America.
Migration and Venezuelan gangs under scrutiny
Trump also addressed migration, pledging 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 described the group as “the most vicious gang anywhere in the world.”
Nuclear weapons testing debate resurfaces
The conversation turned to nuclear weapons after Trump called 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.” Despite both nations not officially testing since the 1990s, Trump said, “They don’t go and tell you about it.” He said he would not allow the US to be “the only country that doesn’t test,” including North Korea and Pakistan in the list of nations conducting secret tests.
Energy Secretary Chris Wright clarified that any planned tests would involve “non-critical explosions” to verify the internal function of nuclear weapons.
Democrats take the blame for prolonged shutdown
Trump also addressed the ongoing US government shutdown, now lasting more than a month and leaving millions without essential services. He blamed Democrats for the deadlock, calling them “crazed lunatics” who have “lost their way.” Trump 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 continues to resonate
This marked 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 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 did not grant an interview to the program during the 2024 election campaign.
