In a telephone interview with NBC News conducted on Thursday and published on Friday, December 19, 2025, President Donald Trump explicitly declined to rule out the possibility of military conflict with Venezuela. When pressed on whether war remains an option amid escalating tensions, Trump responded firmly, "I don't rule it out, no," signaling that all measures, including armed intervention, continue to be under consideration as part of the administration's intensified pressure campaign against the Caracas government.

Trump also evaded direct confirmation on his intentions regarding Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whom he has repeatedly criticized as an authoritarian leader. Responding to questions about potential regime change objectives—claims Maduro has long accused Washington of pursuing—Trump stated cryptically, "He knows exactly what I want. He knows better than anybody." This ambiguous remark underscores the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the ultimate goals of U.S. policy toward the South American nation.

The president's comments follow a series of aggressive actions, including the recent imposition of an oil blockade and the seizure of tankers carrying Venezuelan crude. Trump confirmed that additional vessel interceptions are forthcoming, building on last week's operation where U.S. forces took control of a tanker departing Venezuelan waters. These moves coincide with a substantial military buildup in the Caribbean region over recent months, accompanied by numerous naval strikes on suspected drug-trafficking vessels since September, resulting in over 100 fatalities.

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Shifting focus toward Venezuela's vast oil reserves—the largest proven deposits globally—Trump accused the Maduro government of appropriating American energy interests through past nationalizations. "They took all of our energy rights, they took all of our oil, from not that long ago, and we want it back," he declared earlier in the week. The administration has framed Maduro's regime as a "narco-terrorist" cartel, justifying expanded operations, including repeated warnings of imminent land-based strikes against alleged traffickers.

Trump's refusal to foreclose military options has heightened international speculation about the trajectory of U.S.-Venezuela relations, particularly as the oil blockade intensifies economic strain on Caracas. While diplomatic channels remain open, the president's statements reinforce a hardline stance that keeps the prospect of direct confrontation prominently on the table.

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