Trump’s Venezuela Doctrine

The president’s saber-rattling in the Caribbean reflects his instinct for both political theater and indecisiveness, as well as the competing advisors in his ear. In fact, Trump’s plan for Venezuela may be a mystery even to himself. “I think he thinks about what will make him look tough, but he doesn’t think much beyond that,” said John Bolton. “He never does.”

Trump says he’s open to talking to left-wing Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro, but has also made clear that he wants him out—probably. Photo: Alfredo Lasry R/Getty Images

Julia Ioffe

November 19, 2025

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Once again, all of Washington—and the country and the world—wait and speculate: Will he or won’t he? Over the summer, we wondered whether Donald Trump would strike Iran. (He did.) Four months later, we’re back waiting on this man, who ran as the “president of peace,” to decide whether he’ll strike Venezuela. Trump has already ordered alleged narcotrafficking boats to be blown out of the water. Now he has publicly authorized covert C.I.A. action inside Venezuela, deployed Reaper drones and F-35s to Puerto Rico, and moved a carrier strike group into the region.