President Donald Trump said Monday it would be “smart” for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to leave power, issuing one of his strongest public warnings yet as the United States continues oil seizures, maritime enforcement, and expands its naval posture in the Caribbean.
Speaking to reporters at Mar-a-Lago, Trump declined to say explicitly whether U.S. actions were intended to force Maduro from office but made clear that continued defiance would carry consequences.
“I think it’d be smart for him to do that,” Trump said. “But again, we’re going to find out.”
“If he plays tough, it’ll be the last time he’s ever able to play tough,” Trump added.
Oil Seizures and Maritime Enforcement
Trump confirmed that U.S. forces have seized Venezuelan oil shipments in recent weeks and said the United States could either keep or sell the oil.
“Maybe we will sell it, maybe we will keep it,” Trump said, adding that the oil could potentially be used to replenish U.S. strategic reserves.
The remarks follow Trump’s December 16 announcement of a “total and complete blockade” of sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers, an action tied to allegations that oil revenue has been used to support drug trafficking, terrorism, and regime-linked criminal activity. That order came days after The Dallas Express published multiple reports examining those allegations, including Trump’s blockade directive itself.
Asked about the scope of U.S. military operations, Trump said the pressure campaign includes an expanded military presence and repeated strikes against vessels accused of trafficking drugs in the Caribbean and Pacific regions.
“He’s no friend to the United States,” Trump said of Maduro. “He’s very bad. Very bad guy. He’s gotta watch his ass because he makes cocaine and they send it into the U.S.”
Naval Expansion and the “Golden Fleet”
Trump’s warning to Maduro came during a broader press conference in which he also announced plans for a new class of U.S. Navy warships — part of what his administration has branded a “Golden Fleet” modernization effort.
Trump said the Navy would initially build two new warships, with a longer-term goal of acquiring up to 25 vessels, describing them as more powerful and technologically advanced than current surface combatants. He emphasized the need for faster shipbuilding timelines and said he plans to meet with defense contractors to accelerate production.
While Trump discussed the shipbuilding initiative separately from Venezuela, the announcements came amid an ongoing U.S. focus on maritime control, interdiction, and power projection, particularly in the Western Hemisphere.
Broader Venezuela Context
Trump’s comments on oil seizures and drug trafficking echo allegations raised earlier this month by former Venezuelan officials and whistleblowers, including claims that the Maduro regime relies on oil exports, transnational criminal networks, and foreign partnerships hostile to U.S. interests.
Those allegations have been detailed in prior DX reporting, including letters from former Venezuelan military and intelligence officials alleging the export of criminal organizations such as Tren de Aragua into the United States and the use of oil revenue to sustain regime-linked networks.
One such report examined claims from former intelligence chief Hugo Carvajal Barrios, who described Venezuela as a state-directed criminal enterprise.
Trump did not reference those reports directly during the press conference, but his remarks on oil interdiction, drug trafficking, and maritime enforcement closely tracked the issues they raised.
What Comes Next
Trump did not announce additional sanctions or military actions during the press conference but indicated that U.S. enforcement operations would continue and that further decisions would depend on Caracas’ response.
“We’re going to find out,” Trump said.
The White House has not released additional details on the shipbuilding timeline or next steps in the Venezuela pressure campaign, though U.S. agencies and international shipping firms are expected to closely monitor developments.
