The U.S. president has mocked a video of the Venezuelan regime's militia on social media, where an overweight woman participates in military exercises.
"TOP SECRET: We have caught the Venezuelan military training. A very serious threat!" wrote the president on his Truth Social network, reposting the video that had already gone viral on social media.
Following the U.S. military movements in the Caribbean and the threats to Maduro, the Venezuelan regime activated, starting in late August, the massive recruitment of the Bolivarian Militia across the country.
The Bolivarian Militia, created in 2008 by Hugo Chávez and consolidated by Maduro, has faced criticism from the opposition and human rights organizations, who accuse it of serving as a tool for social and political control in communities, beyond strictly military functions.
Chavismo seeks to strengthen a force that, according to official figures, already has more than 4 million members and operates parallel to traditional military institutions; at a moment marked by the escalation of tensions between Washington and Caracas.
Maduro sends letter to Trump
This Monday, the White House confirmed that it received a letter from Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in which he expresses his willingness to engage in dialogue, but whose contents, according to spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, are filled with "many lies."
"Frankly, I believe there were many falsehoods that Maduro repeated in that letter, and the administration's position has not changed: we continue to view Maduro's regime as illegitimate," Leavitt stated at a press conference.
The spokesperson also reminded that the President of the United States “has shown willingness to use all necessary means to stop the illegal trafficking of deadly drugs coming from the Venezuelan regime to our country.”
The letter sent by Maduro to President Donald Trump was circulated by official media in Caracas and aimed to dismantle what he repeatedly referred to as "fake news" regarding his alleged links to drug trafficking. The Venezuelan leader went so far as to use the term up to five times, adopting the phrase popularized by Trump himself.
In the text, Maduro directly blamed Colombia and the government of Gustavo Petro for being “the true epicenter of drug trafficking in the region.” To support his claim, he stated that 87% of the cocaine produced in the neighboring country leaves through the Pacific, while only about 5% crosses through Venezuelan territory.
The Chavista leader also stated that Venezuela has "neutralized 402 aircraft" linked to drug trafficking so far this year and that it has seized over 70% of the shipments that attempted to cross the common border.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Tensions between the United States and Venezuela
Why did Donald Trump ridicule the Venezuelan militia?
Donald Trump mocked the Venezuelan militia by ridiculing a video in which an overweight woman participates in military exercises. Trump described the militia as a "very serious threat" in an ironic manner, reflecting his critical stance towards Maduro's regime and his efforts to highlight the perceived weakness of Venezuelan forces in the context of military tensions in the Caribbean.
What is the objective of Nicolás Maduro's letter to Donald Trump?
The letter from Nicolás Maduro to Donald Trump seeks to offer dialogue and dismantle what Maduro calls "fake news" regarding his ties to drug trafficking. Maduro accuses Colombia of being the true epicenter of drug trafficking in the region, attempting to divert the accusations from the United States toward the government of Gustavo Petro.
What is the position of the United States regarding Nicolás Maduro's regime?
The position of the United States is that Nicolás Maduro's regime is illegitimate and that Maduro is a "chief fugitive" of a narcoterrorist cartel, the Cartel of the Suns. The Trump administration has increased military and economic pressure on Venezuela, accusing the chavista regime of flooding the United States with deadly drugs.
How has the Maduro regime responded to accusations of drug trafficking?
The Maduro regime has categorically denied the accusations of drug trafficking and has described the actions of the United States as an "imperial threat". Maduro claims that Venezuela has neutralized aircraft and seized drug shipments, presenting these actions as evidence of its fight against drug trafficking.
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