U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed a recent phone call with Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro amid escalating tensions, as Venezuela accused Washington of preparing military action. The December 2025 developments follow a U.S. military buildup in the Caribbean that began in September, described by Trump as a crackdown on drug trafficking—but Caracas claims it’s a regime-change operation.
🚨 What’s Happening: The U.S. has designated Venezuela’s 'Cartel of the Suns' (which Caracas denies exists) as a terrorist group, offered a $50M bounty for Maduro, and closed Venezuelan airspace. Meanwhile, Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin revealed "the U.S. proposed Maduro relocate to Russia" in exchange for amnesty.
📞 Call Details: Trump downplayed the conversation, calling it neutral: "I wouldn’t say it went well or badly." Maduro’s team avoided direct comments but announced investigations into U.S. naval strikes—calling them "provocations."
💣 Military Moves: Reports suggest the Pentagon is planning expanded operations after months of targeting drug boats. While Trump hasn’t explicitly threatened force, he hinted at "land-based" anti-trafficking efforts starting soon.
🌐 Global Reactions: The New York Times and Wall Street Journal reported potential backchannel negotiations, but with Maduro’s $50M bounty still active, trust remains as thin as a TikTok trend’s lifespan.
