Trump defends Venezuela airspace closure, cites criminals sent to US
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President Donald Trump defended his call to shut down Venezuela’s airspace, saying the country was sending criminals to the United States, but told reporters “don’t read anything into it” when asked if the warning signaled an imminent attack.
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said Venezuela was “not a very friendly country” and claimed it was sending criminals, gang members and drug traffickers to the United States.
On Saturday, Trump told airlines, pilots, drug dealers and human smugglers to “consider a COMPLETE CLOSURE OF THE ABOVE AIRSPACE AND THE VENEZUELA SURROUNDINGS.”
Asked Sunday whether the warning meant an airstrike was imminent, Trump said, “Don’t make any sense of it.”
THE WHITE HOUSE RESPONDED TO REPORTS THAT TRUMP WAS PREPARING TO HIT MILITARY TARGETS IN VENEZUELA
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro (2nd right) waves while surrounded by officials. (FEDERICO PARRA/AFP via Getty Images)
Trump also confirmed a New York Times report that he spoke by phone with President Nicolás Maduro, but did not provide any details about the call.
“I can’t say it’s going well or badly,” he said. “It was a phone call.”
The president’s comments come amid rising tensions between the United States and Venezuela over Venezuela’s failure to stop drug traffickers from sending drugs to the United States
TRUMP’S HIT ON THE CARtel SHIP OFF VENEZUELA SENT A WARNING TO MADURO: ‘There Is No Sanctuary’
Hegseth said the ship was affiliated with the Colombian National Liberation Army, known as the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN). (Ministry of War)
Since September, the Trump administration has launched more than 20 strikes against alleged drug boats in Latin American waters and has strengthened its military presence in the Caribbean as part of Trump’s effort to stem the flow of drugs to the United States.
The total number of suspected narco-terrorists eliminated as a result of the attacks rose to over 82, with three survivors.
But as the United States continues to support its forces in the waters off Venezuela, Maduro has called for peace but also remained defiant against what he calls “imperialist aggression.”
WHILE TRUMP PROMISES TO STOP THE CARTELS, US WARSHIP WILL BE ACTIVE IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS AROUND VENEZUELA
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro holds a ceremonial sword said to belong to independence hero Simon Bolivar during a government-organized civil-military march in Caracas, Venezuela, Tuesday, Nov. 25, 2025. (Ariana Cubillos/AP Photo)
Maduro gave a sword-waving speech in Caracas last week, warning his supporters to prepare for confrontation and saying the United States would begin intercepting suspected Venezuelan drug traffickers on the ground “very soon.”
He attended a mass rally in the capital holding the sword of Simón Bolívar, the 19th-century independence leader widely regarded as the liberator of much of South America. Maduro told his supporters that the country was facing a decisive moment.
The Associated Press reported that Bolívar said as he raised his sword: “For everyone, whether civilian, politician, military or police – Let no one make excuses. Failure is not an option. The homeland requires it! Our greatest effort and sacrifice. And with (Simón) Bolívar I came to say: if the homeland demands it, the homeland will take our lives if necessary.” He declared as he raised Bolívar’s sword.
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Maduro framed the situation as what he called a fight against foreign threats and called on Venezuelans to take action against any foreign aggression.
Fox News Digital’s Diana Stancy and Efrat Lachter contributed to this report.
