President Donald Trump said Thursday that he is leaving the possibility of a war with Venezuela on the table.
“I don’t rule it out, no,” he told NBC News in a phone interview.
Trump on Tuesday ordered a “blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers coming and going from Venezuela, increasing pressure on the country’s president, Nicolás Maduro. The U.S. recently seized an oil tanker captured near Venezuela, as well.
The administration’s campaign has already resulted in 28 boat strikes that have killed more than 100 people, including a “double tap” strike facing congressional scrutiny.
In his phone interview, Trump said “I don’t discuss it” when he is asked whether he rules out the possibility that such actions could lead to war.
But when he was pressed, he confirmed it was a possibility and said there will be additional seizures of oil tankers. Asked for a timeline, Trump replied: “It depends. If they’re foolish enough to be sailing along, they’ll be sailing along back into one of our harbors.”
Trump also declined to say whether ousting Maduro was his ultimate goal.
“He knows exactly what I want,” Trump replied. “He knows better than anybody.”
Trump’s admission that he’s not ruling out a war with Venezuela is significant. He has long tried to distinguish himself from the hawkish wing of the Republican Party, and in 2024, he campaigned on being able to keep the U.S. out of foreign conflicts.
In his speech after he won the election, Trump said he was “not going to start a war; I’m going to stop wars.”
The administration has claimed that the strikes have been on alleged drug boats and that Venezuela is using oil revenue to finance “drug terrorism.”
On Wednesday, Trump sought to defend his economic policies in a national prime-time address as voters continue to indicate that they’re struggling with the cost of living.
In the speech, Trump announced a $1,776 “warrior dividend” that will go to nearly 1.5 million members of the military in honor of the nation’s founding almost 250 years ago.
Trump told NBC News that people would start getting the payments “very soon” — “I would say within the next few days, it’ll all be out” — and said they will be funded through the “One Big Beautiful Bill” and revenue from tariffs.
NBC