The President of the United States, Donald Trump, stated this Monday that he does not rule out any measures in response to the Venezuelan crisis, including military options, and asserted that his administration "has to take care of" the problem.
The president made these statements during an event in the Oval Office, as reported by the agency EFE.
Trump asserted that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro "has not been good to the United States" and reiterated his accusation that his government is sending illegal immigrants, including members of the criminal gang Tren de Aragua, into U.S. territory.
"I am not enthusiastic about those who govern Venezuela. I love Venezuela, I love the Venezuelan people, but what they have done to this country is unacceptable," stated the president.
Trump also added that "at some point" he might speak with Maduro, referring to a possible future contact, although he maintained his critical tone towards the regime, reported EFE.
In a video posted by the official account Rapid Response 47, linked to the White House, Trump is seen saying: “I don’t rule anything out, we just have to take care of Venezuela,” while responding to a question about the possibility of sending U.S. troops to the South American country.
The president added that Venezuela has sent hundreds of thousands of people to the United States from its prisons, and he held Nicolás Maduro's regime responsible for allowing dangerous criminals to enter through the southern border.
During the exchange, Secretary of Homeland Security, Kristi Noem, described members of the criminal gang Tren de Aragua as “murderers who massacre people and bury them in their communities.”
Trump coincided with the description and asked if that gang was worse than MS-13, to which Noem responded, "They are the worst."
The president added that his administration is taking steps to deport those involved and strengthen border control.
"They sent us here as if we were a dumping ground, but that is over. I love Venezuela and its people, but not those who govern it. What Maduro and his regime have done, and what Biden and the Democrats have done to our country, will never be forgotten," Trump stated.
The president also reiterated his willingness to engage in dialogue with Nicolás Maduro, although he made it clear that all options remain on the table.
His comments come as Washington reviews its policy towards Caracas, characterized by sanctions and rising tensions in the region.
The Trump administration has maintained a firm stance against the Venezuelan regime, which it blames for human rights violations, corruption, and for using migration as a political weapon.
Previously, in an unexpected turn that shook the geopolitical landscape in Latin America, Trump opened the door to a possible dialogue channel with Nicolás Maduro, although he later hardened his rhetoric by warning that he "does not rule out any option" regarding Venezuela.
“It is possible that we are talking, that we are having conversations with Maduro. We will see how it turns out. They would like to talk,” declared the president this Sunday from the airport in West Palm Beach, Florida, just before boarding Air Force One.
Similarly, the United States Department of State announced this Sunday its intention to designate the Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO, for its acronym in English), effective from Monday, November 24, 2025.
According to the statement signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the organization is led by Nicolás Maduro and high-ranking officials of the Chavista regime, who are accused of turning the structures of the Venezuelan state—from the military to the judiciary—into instruments of drug trafficking and corruption.
All these actions occurred after Trump stated last Friday that he had made a decision regarding possible military actions against Venezuela, although he refused to provide details about the next steps.
"I've already made my decision. I can't tell you what it will be," Trump replied to reporters as he walked towards the presidential plane headed to Florida for the weekend.
"We have made significant progress with Venezuela in terms of stopping the massive influx of drugs," he added.
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