The board is set, the pieces are moving – fast.
In his new National Defense priority of securing the Western Hemisphere, Donald J. Trump has apparently selected Venezuela as the first place to clean-up and secure.
The US DOJ has files criminal charges against the Tyrant of Caracas Nicolas Maduro, designated him as a drug trafficker and a Cartel boss, and is offering an astounding $50 million reward for information leading to his capture.
On the military side, the developments have been even more consequential, with a biggest deployment to South America in 25 years.
And they are not there just for show, as a boat allegedly carrying a large cargo of drugs and members of the Tren de Aragua cartel has been blown up.
Following this, F16 fighter jets from Venezuela have twice flown over the USS Jason Dunham, leading Trump to say that if they put American assets in danger they will be shot down.
To top it up, reports allege that the US is now weighing enacting strikes on Cartel targets inside the Venezuelan territory.
With all these developments, and the non-stop shows of defiance by a scared dictator Maduro, many are asking themselves how far can the escalations go.
Yesterday (5), Trump told the press that the US is NOT considering regime change in Venezuela.
This comes as the Department of War has sent additional 10 stealth fighter jets, increasing the military buildup in the Caribbean.
Reuters reported:
“’We’re not talking about that, but we are talking about the fact that you had an election which was a very strange election, to put it mildly’, Trump said, referring to the contested 2024 election the Venezuelan government says President Nicolas Maduro won.”
WATCH:
Reporter: Would you like to see a regime change in Venezuela?
Trump: We are not talking about that. pic.twitter.com/uHLc7bTtaK
— Defense Intelligence (@DI313_) September 6, 2025
Trump was reacting to claims from Maduro that the United States was seeking ‘regime change through military threat’.
“’The government of the United States should abandon its plan of violent regime change in Venezuela and in all of Latin America and respect sovereignty, the right to peace, to independence’, Maduro said on state television.
‘I respect Trump. None of the differences we’ve had can lead to a military conflict’, Maduro added. ‘Venezuela has always been willing to converse, to dialogue’.”
It seems that Maduro got some advice from his Russian handlers, as he now appeals to Trump’s perceived personality, that responds well to manifestations of respect.
“The disclosure about the F-35s came just hours after the Pentagon accused Venezuela of a “highly provocative” flight on Thursday by fighter jets near a U.S. Navy warship.
Trump warned Venezuela that the U.S. military had authorization to shoot down the jets if commanders believed they needed to, saying: ‘If they do put us in a dangerous position, they’ll be shot down’.”
Read more:
Trump Reportedly Considering Striking Cartels Inside Venezuela
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