President Donald Trump reportedly delivered a blunt warning to Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro on Monday, cautioning the socialist leader against trying to play “tough” with the United States as Washington continues to escalate its pressure campaign on the regime.
Trump made the remarks while taking questions from reporters following an announcement on the construction of a new “Trump-Class” battleship. Asked why Maduro should take his warnings seriously, the president made clear that the choice now rests squarely with the Venezuelan leader.
“He can do whatever he wants,” Trump said. “We have a massive armada formed, the biggest we’ve ever had – by far the biggest we’ve ever had in South America.” Trump emphasized that while Maduro is free to act as he chooses, there would be consequences. “Whatever he wants to do, if he wants to do something. If he plays tough, it’ll be the last time he’s ever able to play tough,” the president said.
Throughout the press conference, Trump was repeatedly questioned about U.S. objectives in Venezuela and whether the administration is seeking to remove Maduro from power. Each time, Trump framed the outcome as dependent on Maduro’s decisions.
When asked directly if the United States is aiming to oust the Venezuelan leader, Trump responded, “I think it probably would,” before adding, “That’s up to him what he wants to do. I think it would be smart for him to do that, but, again, we’re going to find out.”
The comments come as the Trump administration has significantly stepped up its efforts to isolate and pressure the Maduro regime. Over the summer, the U.S. military began surging additional battleships and troops into the southern Caribbean, a move aimed at shutting down drug trafficking routes that flow out of Venezuela.
As part of that buildup, the United States deployed the USS Gerald R. Ford, the most advanced aircraft carrier in the American fleet, to waters off Venezuela’s coast. The presence of the carrier underscores the administration’s willingness to project overwhelming force in the region as it confronts what it views as a hostile and criminal regime.
In recent weeks, the pressure campaign has expanded beyond military positioning. The Trump administration has targeted sanctioned tanker ships used to transport Venezuelan oil to international buyers, including Iran. U.S. forces have seized several of those vessels as part of an effort to cut off a key source of revenue for Maduro’s government.
Trump made clear Monday that the United States has no intention of returning the seized assets. Instead, he said Washington will decide how best to use the oil and ships as the campaign intensifies.
“We’re going to keep it,” Trump said. “Maybe we’ll sell it. Maybe we’ll keep it. Maybe we’ll use it in the strategic reserves.”
The president’s remarks reflect a strategy that combines military strength with economic pressure, leaving Maduro little room to maneuver. By repeatedly stressing that the outcome depends on Maduro’s choices, Trump signaled that while the United States is prepared for multiple scenarios, it is also prepared to escalate if challenged.
As U.S. forces remain positioned near Venezuela and enforcement actions continue against the regime’s oil operations, Trump’s warning served as a clear message: defiance will be met with consequences, and the window for Maduro to change course may be closing fast.
