Trump warns Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro his ‘days are numbered,’ prez won’t rule out ground invasion

In a fresh interview with Politico, former President Donald Trump warned that Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro’s hold on power is “days are numbered.” He also hinted that the U.S. might consider deploying ground troops to topple the left‑wing dictator, though he did not confirm any concrete plans.

During the conversation, Trump underscored that Maduro must be removed as the U.S. intensifies its crackdown on drug smuggling across South America. Yet, he refrained from outlining specific actions the administration could take to force a regime shift.

When the journalist for “The Conversation” podcast, Dasha Burns, pressed him on the depth of U.S. commitment to ousting Maduro, Trump replied, “I don’t want to say that.”

“But you want to see him out?” Burns inquired.

“His days are numbered,” Trump reiterated.

He accused the Caracas government of sending “drug dealers” into the U.S., naming the infamous Tren de Aragua gang as a case in point.

In expressing his sentiments toward the Venezuelan populace, Trump said, “I want the people of Venezuela to be treated well,” adding that many Venezuelans live in America and were “treated horribly by Maduro.” He noted that a large majority of Venezuelan voters had supported him in the past.

Since September 2, the U.S. military has carried out more than 20 strikes on suspected narcotics vessels in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific, with casualties exceeding 80.

When Burns asked whether a ground invasion could be ruled out, Trump answered, “I don’t want to rule in or out.” He later clarified that he prefers not to discuss armed strategy with her.

Trump did mention that he intends to launch airstrikes against Venezuelan targets “very soon.” He also alluded to the possibility of striking similar sites in Mexico and Colombia, both of which handle more fentanyl shipments into the U.S. than Caracas.

While the White House blames Venezuelan gangs for trafficking opiates, a 2019 DEA study indicates that the bulk of fentanyl—responsible for the majority of U.S. overdose deaths—originates from Mexico, with precursor chemicals arriving from China.