That Noisy Trump

Venezuela Military Campaign and Maduro Capture

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The administration escalated from Caribbean drug boat strikes to seizing oil tankers, imposing a naval blockade, and ultimately capturing President Maduro in a military raid on Caracas. Trump claimed US control over Venezuelan oil, while international condemnation grew and Congress sought to restrain presidential war powers.

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January 2025
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Day 12 · 31 Jan 2025Foreign Policy

Trump's special envoy Richard Grenell flew to Venezuela to meet with President Nicolás Maduro, prompting speculation about a potential rapprochement between Washington and Caracas after years of tensions and sanctions.

February 2025
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Day 13 · 1 Feb 2025Foreign Policy

Venezuela released six U.S. detainees following a meeting between a Trump envoy and President Maduro. The release marks a diplomatic development in the Trump administration's approach to Venezuela.

Day 38 · 26 Feb 2025Foreign Policy

Trump appeared to be revoking a license previously granted by the Biden administration to Chevron to operate in Venezuela, potentially hurting the company and the Venezuelan economy.

September 2025
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Day 226 · 2 Sept 2025Foreign Policy

Trump announced that the U.S. conducted a 'kinetic strike' in international waters against a boat from Venezuela, killing 11 people, amid escalating U.S.-Caracas tensions. Venezuelan President Maduro responded by warning that war would 'stain your hands with blood.'

Day 229 · 5 Sept 2025Foreign Policy

Trump sent 10 stealth fighter planes to Puerto Rico as part of a military response to counter Caribbean drug cartels, following U.S. accusations that Venezuela conducted a hostile act against a U.S. warship and after a deadly U.S. missile strike in the Caribbean.

Day 230 · 6 Sept 2025Foreign Policy

President Trump stated that Venezuelan military jets will be shot down if they endanger U.S. ships, escalating tensions with Venezuela. The warning comes as part of Trump's broader confrontational approach to regional foreign policy.

Day 231 · 7 Sept 2025Legal

Republican Senator Rand Paul condemned Vice President JD Vance's defense of a U.S. airstrike on a Venezuelan boat allegedly containing drug traffickers, calling Vance's comments "despicable" and "thoughtless."

Day 239 · 15 Sept 2025Foreign Policy

Trump announced a second U.S. military strike on a Venezuelan boat allegedly carrying drug traffickers, reportedly killing three people. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro condemned the action as 'a heinous crime' and accused the Trump administration of trying to start a war in the Caribbean.

Day 244 · 20 Sept 2025Foreign Policy

Trump announced that the U.S. military carried out a third fatal strike on an alleged drug-smuggling boat in the Caribbean, killing three people. The strikes, according to military and analyst assessments, may be part of a broader campaign targeting Venezuela beyond drug interdiction.

Day 253 · 29 Sept 2025Legal

The Trump administration targeted Stephen Miller's homeland security council in coordinating operations against alleged Venezuelan drug boats, with Miller playing a leading role in strikes on these vessels.

October 2025
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Day 256 · 2 Oct 2025Legal

The Trump administration determined that the U.S. is at war with drug cartels, with a notice classifying people recently killed by U.S. military operations in the Caribbean Sea as 'unlawful combatants.' Congress was briefed on the determination.

Day 257 · 3 Oct 2025Legal

The Trump administration claimed the United States is in 'armed conflict' with drug cartels to justify recent military strikes on alleged Venezuelan drug boats. Pentagon chief Hegseth reported that a recent strike killed four people on a boat allegedly carrying 'substantial amounts' of drugs.

Day 259 · 5 Oct 2025Foreign Policy

Trump announced that the U.S. struck another alleged drug boat off the Venezuela coast, saying the administration would focus on land-based drug trafficking. The statement was made during a Navy ceremony.

Day 260 · 6 Oct 2025Foreign Policy

Trump called off diplomatic outreach to Venezuela, paving the way for possible military escalation against drug traffickers or the government of Nicolás Maduro. The move represents a reversal of previous diplomatic efforts with the Latin American nation.

Day 264 · 10 Oct 2025Social

The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Venezuelan opposition politician María Corina Machado for her work promoting democratic rights in Venezuela, not to President Trump. The White House criticized the decision as 'politics over peace,' while Trump had reportedly conducted a campaign to influence the prize committee.

Day 266 · 12 Oct 2025Domestic

Trump administration military strikes on boats off Venezuela that the president says are drug smugglers have unsettled Mexico, America's biggest trading partner, which is concerned about potential escalation against criminal groups operating in the region.

Day 268 · 14 Oct 2025Foreign Policy

Trump said the U.S. military killed six people in a strike on a boat allegedly carrying drugs near Venezuela, the fifth such Caribbean strike. The UN has condemned these operations as extrajudicial executions.

Day 269 · 15 Oct 2025Foreign Policy

The Trump administration authorized covert CIA action in Venezuela and the U.S. military drew up options for possible strikes inside the country as the administration considered new measures toward the Nicolás Maduro government.

Day 270 · 16 Oct 2025Foreign Policy

Trump revealed he authorized covert CIA operations in Venezuela, marking an escalation in pressure against President Nicolás Maduro. The administration is also mulling military strikes on Venezuelan territory as Maduro condemned the move as "coups d'état."

Day 271 · 17 Oct 2025Foreign Policy

Trump claimed that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro is willing to give 'everything' to ease tensions with the United States, stating in colorful language that Maduro 'doesn't want to fuck around with the United States.' The statement came during discussions about potential U.S. military operations in the region.

Day 272 · 18 Oct 2025Foreign Policy

Trump announced that two survivors of a U.S. strike on a submarine would be sent to Ecuador and Colombia, reportedly as a move to avoid legal complications. These individuals were reportedly linked to a drug-trafficking vessel.

Day 273 · 19 Oct 2025Foreign Policy

Trump called Colombia's President Gustavo Petro an "illegal drug dealer" and vowed to cut U.S. funding and impose new tariffs on Colombian imports after Petro accused the U.S. of killing a fisherman in a Caribbean strike. The U.S. military said it struck a vessel suspected of smuggling drugs for Colombian rebels, killing three people.

Day 274 · 20 Oct 2025Foreign Policy

Colombia recalled its U.S. ambassador amid tensions with Trump over alleged American strikes on suspected drug trafficking boats. The dispute raises concerns about the future of counter-narcotics cooperation between the two nations.

Day 277 · 23 Oct 2025Foreign Policy

Trump said he planned to conduct military strikes against alleged drug traffickers from Venezuela, including potential land operations. The president indicated he would not seek Congressional authorization, telling lawmakers he could not 'imagine they'd have any problem with it.'

Day 278 · 24 Oct 2025Foreign Policy

The Pentagon deployed the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier to the Caribbean as Trump escalates military operations against alleged drug cartels. A US airstrike killed six people described as narco-terrorists in the Caribbean region.

Day 279 · 25 Oct 2025Foreign Policy

The Pentagon announced it is deploying the USS Gerald Ford aircraft carrier and other warships to the Caribbean coast of Venezuela. Trump reportedly is focused on Venezuelan oil while national security adviser Marco Rubio has pushed for a tougher approach to the regime.

Day 279 · 25 Oct 2025Foreign Policy

The U.S. Treasury placed sanctions on Colombian president Gustavo Petro, accusing him of 'allowing drug cartels to flourish' as president. Petro responded by attacking Trump's 'oppressive regime.'

Day 281 · 27 Oct 2025Legal

Republican Senator Rand Paul called Trump's military airstrikes 'extrajudicial killings,' with his comments coming days after the president claimed US lawmakers would not object to Venezuelan strikes.

November 2025
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Day 286 · 1 Nov 2025Foreign Policy

Trump's military pressure on Maduro in Venezuela and CIA actions against the government have drawn comparisons to Latin America's historical pattern of coups and assassinations.

Day 288 · 3 Nov 2025Foreign Policy

Trump stated he doubts the US will go to war with Venezuela and that while Nicolás Maduro's 'days are numbered,' military intervention is unlikely. The remarks follow reports that the US has amassed military units in the Caribbean.

Day 289 · 4 Nov 2025Domestic

Trump is weighing military and economic options regarding Venezuela, with advisers pressing for objectives ranging from attacking drug cartels to seizing oil fields as justifications for ousting President Nicolás Maduro.

Day 292 · 7 Nov 2025Foreign Policy

Senate Democrats failed to block military action against Venezuela, with a resolution failing 49-51 as the Trump administration increases military buildup in the region. Only two Republican senators voted in favor of the measure to check presidential power.

Day 292 · 7 Nov 2025Foreign Policy

U.S. military strikes in Latin America killed approximately 70 people across alleged drug operations, destroying at least 18 vessels. Washington has yet to publicly provide concrete evidence that its targets posed a threat to America.

Day 295 · 10 Nov 2025Foreign Policy

Defense Secretary Hegseth claimed that six people were killed in two new U.S. attacks on alleged drug boats in the eastern Pacific, describing the dead as 'narco-terrorists,' though no evidence was provided.

Day 296 · 11 Nov 2025Foreign Policy

The Pentagon's largest warship, the USS Gerald R. Ford, entered Latin American waters amid rising U.S.-Venezuela tensions, marking the largest U.S. military presence in the region since the 1989 Panama invasion. The deployment comes as the Trump administration has taken lethal action against drug vessels in the Caribbean.

Day 296 · 11 Nov 2025Foreign Policy

The United Kingdom paused intelligence-sharing with the United States on suspected drug vessels in the Caribbean, marking a rare rupture between the military allies due to concerns over the Trump administration's lethal sinking of boats. This represents a significant breakdown in intelligence cooperation between longtime partners.

Day 297 · 12 Nov 2025Foreign Policy

Trump deployed the world's largest aircraft carrier to the Caribbean amid escalating tensions with Venezuela. Military experts suggest action may be 'imminent,' though others believe it is a negotiating tactic, while the Trump administration claims the buildup is necessary to stem drug trafficking to the US.

Day 299 · 14 Nov 2025Foreign Policy

Defense Secretary Hegseth announced a military operation targeting alleged drug smuggling vessels in the Caribbean, described as an effort to remove 'narco-terrorists' from the hemisphere. The operation has strained UK-US intelligence cooperation.

Day 299 · 14 Nov 2025Foreign Policy

Trump is welcoming Saudi Crown Prince with an arrival ceremony and deal signings. The visit comes as Venezuela's President Maduro urged Trump to avoid an Afghanistan-style 'forever war' amid military buildup in the region.

Day 302 · 17 Nov 2025Foreign Policy

The Trump administration placed an aircraft carrier in the Caribbean and announced it would designate a Venezuelan group as a foreign terrorist organization, escalating pressure on President Nicolás Maduro's government. Experts believe the decision is designed to pressure Venezuela's leader into stepping down.

Day 303 · 18 Nov 2025Foreign Policy

Trump declined to rule out sending U.S. troops to Venezuela, stating the country must be 'taken care of' as the U.S. builds a military force in the Caribbean. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum rejected Trump's earlier threat to authorize strikes against drug cartels on Mexican soil.

Day 306 · 21 Nov 2025Domestic

Trump's Justice Department is investigating unfounded claims that Venezuela helped steal the 2020 election, according to an exclusive report. The discredited conspiracy theory could potentially strengthen arguments for military action against the Maduro regime.

Day 308 · 23 Nov 2025Foreign Policy

A top US military officer was set to visit the Caribbean as President Trump applied pressure on Venezuela, with reports indicating Trump approved plans for covert action in the country.

Day 309 · 24 Nov 2025Domestic

President Trump suggested that Venezuela rigged the 2020 U.S. election, implying his Venezuela policy may be based on an unfounded election-rigging conspiracy theory rather than contemporary geopolitical concerns.

Day 309 · 24 Nov 2025Foreign Policy

The Trump administration designated a Venezuelan group known as the 'Cartel of the Suns' as a terrorist organization, despite doubts over its existence. Venezuela accused the U.S. of using terrorism allegations to justify regime change.

Day 309 · 24 Nov 2025Domestic

U.S. military pressure against Venezuela, framed as a 'war on drugs,' has resulted in 83 deaths that the UN has called extrajudicial executions, according to a Guardian investigation of the military buildup and airstrikes in the Caribbean.

Day 310 · 25 Nov 2025Domestic

The Trump administration's Justice Department memo about boat strikes in the Caribbean frames them as self-defense against violence without naming an aggressor, diverging from Trump's public claim that they are intended to stop U.S. overdose deaths.

Day 311 · 26 Nov 2025Foreign Policy

Trump threatens Venezuela's President Maduro with 'the easy way or the hard way' amid military buildup in the Caribbean. Maduro responded by vowing to defend 'every inch' of the country.

Day 313 · 28 Nov 2025Foreign Policy

Trump spoke by phone last week with Nicolas Maduro, the president of Venezuela, to discuss a possible meeting between the two, though nothing has been scheduled. The administration continues to increase military pressure on Venezuela.

Day 314 · 29 Nov 2025Foreign Policy

Trump declared Venezuelan airspace closed in a social media post, following an earlier FAA warning to airlines about a worsening security situation. The declaration came days after Trump suggested the United States could expand its campaign of killing suspected drug traffickers at sea to attacking Venezuelan territory.

Day 315 · 30 Nov 2025Foreign Policy

Venezuela suspended all deportation flights and responded defiantly to Trump's comments about closing airspace above the country, stating it does not accept foreign orders or threats.

Day 315 · 30 Nov 2025Foreign Policy

Top Republicans and Democrats demanded answers about an escalating military campaign the Trump administration says is aimed at targeting drug traffickers, with some lawmakers suggesting a follow-up boat strike could constitute a war crime.

December 2025
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Day 316 · 1 Dec 2025Foreign Policy

Trump reportedly gave Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro an ultimatum to relinquish power, according to sources familiar with the communication. The message was described as 'blunt' by those cited.

Day 316 · 1 Dec 2025Legal

Trump moved to pardon Juan Orlando Hernández, Honduras's former president, despite Hernández being convicted on drug trafficking charges. Critics argue this contradicts Trump's administration's anti-drug efforts.

Day 317 · 2 Dec 2025Foreign Policy

Trump threatened imminent military strikes against Venezuela and any country he claims manufactures drugs for the United States market. The threats signal escalating US-Venezuela tensions, with Trump reportedly delivering an ultimatum to President Nicolás Maduro to leave power immediately.

Day 317 · 2 Dec 2025Legal

The family of Alejandro Carranza Medina, a Colombian citizen, filed the first formal complaint alleging he was illegally killed in a US airstrike on September 15 targeting suspected drug boats in the Caribbean.

Day 318 · 3 Dec 2025Foreign Policy

Trump announced he is planning military strikes on alleged drug traffickers in other countries "very soon." Colombia's President Gustavo Petro warned Trump not to "wake the jaguar" with threats of military strikes on Colombian soil, while Republicans in Congress also scrutinized the administration over recent strikes on boats allegedly linked to drug trafficking from Venezuela.

Day 318 · 3 Dec 2025Domestic

The family of Alejandro Carranza Medina filed a complaint alleging "extrajudicial killing" following Trump administration airstrikes on alleged drug boats. Medina's relatives claim he was a fisherman, not a drug trafficker, and that he was killed in the strikes.

Day 319 · 4 Dec 2025Domestic

Trump officials stated that a second strike on an alleged drug boat near Venezuela was aimed at destroying the vessel rather than killing its crew, citing a secret memo that provides legal justification for firing on boats even if it would kill people on board.

Day 320 · 5 Dec 2025Domestic

Video evidence reviewed by U.S. senators shows two unarmed men clinging to boat wreckage for approximately an hour before a second U.S. airstrike killed them. The incident has raised questions about the legality of the strikes and potential war crimes, with Congress focusing scrutiny on the administration's use of force.

Day 325 · 10 Dec 2025Foreign Policy

Two U.S. fighter jets circled the Gulf of Venezuela as part of an escalating military campaign against President Nicolás Maduro. Trump stated that Maduro's 'days are numbered' as the military targeted alleged drug boats in the region.

Day 325 · 10 Dec 2025Foreign Policy

Trump announced he would make a phone call to end hostilities between Thailand and Cambodia after a ceasefire deal he had previously brokered collapsed. The announcement was made during a rally in Pennsylvania.

Day 326 · 11 Dec 2025Foreign Policy

US forces seized a Venezuelan oil tanker (the Skipper) carrying approximately 1.1 million barrels of oil in what Venezuela called an 'act of international piracy,' marking a major escalation in Trump's pressure campaign against Nicolás Maduro's government.

Day 326 · 11 Dec 2025Foreign Policy

Trump told Colombian President Gustavo Petro he 'will be next' as the administration escalated military pressure on the Venezuelan government, while US lawmakers expressed concern about the administration 'sleepwalking into a war' in the Caribbean.

Day 326 · 11 Dec 2025Foreign Policy

US House passed the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) authorizing $900 billion for military programs with $8 billion more than Trump requested, and including demands for information about boat strikes in the Caribbean.

Day 327 · 12 Dec 2025Foreign Policy

Trump expanded sanctions on Venezuela, adding six oil supertankers and members of Nicolas Maduro's extended family to the sanctions list. The action followed the U.S. seizure of a dark fleet tanker and continued escalation of pressure on the Maduro government.

Day 328 · 13 Dec 2025Foreign Policy

Venezuela's oil exports reportedly fell sharply after the U.S. seized the tanker Skipper, marking the first U.S. capture of Venezuelan oil cargo since sanctions were imposed in 2019.

Day 329 · 14 Dec 2025Foreign Policy

Cuba has denounced the U.S. seizure of the Skipper oil tanker off Venezuela's coast as an act of 'maritime terrorism,' escalating tensions in the region.

Day 332 · 17 Dec 2025Foreign Policy

President Trump ordered a blockade of sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela, marking an escalation of military and economic pressure against the Maduro government. Trump stated the U.S. armada "will only get bigger" until Venezuela returns what he claims are "all of the oil, land, and other assets that they previously stole from us." The Venezuelan government condemned the move as a "grotesque threat," while Mexican President Sheinbaum urged the UN to "prevent bloodshed."

Day 333 · 18 Dec 2025Foreign Policy

The U.S. military announced it carried out a lethal strike on a vessel in the Pacific, killing four, during operations in international waters. The announcement came as Trump addressed the nation and a day after he ordered a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers entering and leaving Venezuela.

Day 334 · 19 Dec 2025Foreign Policy

Trump and top aides refused to rule out military action against Venezuela, with President Nicolás Maduro ordering the Venezuelan navy to escort oil tankers after seizure by U.S. forces. The statements escalated tensions in the region over disputed maritime boundaries and oil assets.

Day 335 · 20 Dec 2025Foreign Policy

The U.S. intercepted a second merchant vessel off the coast of Venezuela in international waters; the vessel does not appear on the U.S. sanctions list, marking a potential escalation in the blockade.

Day 336 · 21 Dec 2025Foreign Policy

The U.S. Coast Guard pursued an oil tanker linked to Venezuela that was sending distress signals as it headed from the Caribbean into the Atlantic, part of continued U.S. pressure on Venezuela.

Day 337 · 22 Dec 2025Foreign Policy

The U.S. Coast Guard pursued an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela subject to sanctions, as part of Trump's stated 'blockade' of sanctioned vessels. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem indicated the seizures are intended to force Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from power.

Day 338 · 23 Dec 2025Foreign Policy

Trump's administration implemented tanker crackdowns that have severely disrupted Venezuelan oil exports, a vital source of revenue for the country. The U.S. took action against three ships used to transport crude oil, causing exports to plummet as Russia and China pledged support for Venezuela's Maduro government.

Day 339 · 24 Dec 2025Foreign Policy

The Trump administration has seized oil tankers near Venezuela and made claims to Venezuelan oil resources, actions that legal experts say may set precedents for other countries to seize foreign vessels and challenge maritime rules. Critics compare the offensive to Iraq war tactics involving regime-change rhetoric and oil interests.

Day 344 · 29 Dec 2025Foreign Policy

Trump claimed the U.S. struck a 'big facility' in Venezuela in what would be the administration's first reported land strike on the country if confirmed. The administration provided no details about the alleged attack, which Trump said was related to efforts to disrupt drug trafficking from Latin America.

Day 345 · 30 Dec 2025Foreign Policy

The Trump administration conducted a CIA drone strike on a port facility in Venezuela, reported to be used for drug trafficking operations. This represents the first known U.S. military operation inside Venezuelan territory and signals escalation in the campaign against Nicolás Maduro's government.

Day 346 · 31 Dec 2025Foreign Policy

The number of American citizens detained in Venezuela has increased amid growing U.S. military and economic pressure against President Nicolás Maduro's government.

January 2026
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Day 347 · 1 Jan 2026Foreign Policy

Venezuela released at least 80 political prisoners, including one with U.S. ties, though rights groups report that more than 800 people remain detained for opposing President Nicolás Maduro's rule.

Day 348 · 2 Jan 2026Foreign Policy

Venezuelan President Maduro urged Trump to abandon 'illegal warmongering' and start 'serious talks,' warning of a 'forever war' similar to Iraq after Trump claimed the US conducted a first land strike on a dock.

Day 349 · 3 Jan 2026Foreign Policy

President Trump announced that US forces have captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, calling the operation 'brilliant.' The Attorney General stated the couple will face criminal charges, with Maduro to be tried in New York on alleged involvement in narco-terrorism.

Day 349 · 3 Jan 2026Foreign Policy

US military forces conducted airstrikes and a raid operation on Caracas, capturing Maduro by helicopter and transporting him to the USS Iwo Jima. Trump shared images of Maduro blindfolded and handcuffed on social media.

Day 349 · 3 Jan 2026Foreign Policy

France, Russia, China, and the EU issued statements saying the US operation violated international law. UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer stated Britain was not involved in the attack and described the situation as fast-moving.

Day 349 · 3 Jan 2026Foreign Policy

Trump stated that US oil companies are prepared to invest billions in rebuilding Venezuelan oil infrastructure, though the oil giants themselves remained silent on the claim. Trump emphasized taking Venezuelan oil as central to his Venezuela policy.

Day 349 · 3 Jan 2026Domestic

Republicans celebrated the capture of Maduro, while Democrats condemned the operation as unjustified and warned it risks pulling the US into another war. New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani called Trump to criticize the strikes as violating international law.

Day 350 · 4 Jan 2026Foreign Policy

The Trump administration conducted a military operation capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores, who were flown to New York. Trump stated the US will "run" Venezuela during a transition period, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio defending the action as necessary leverage over the country.

Day 350 · 4 Jan 2026Foreign Policy

Democratic lawmakers criticized the Venezuela military operation as lacking congressional approval and called it "wildly illegal." By Sunday evening, Trump administration officials agreed to brief Congress on Monday after Democrats demanded information about the action taken without legislative notification.

Day 350 · 4 Jan 2026Foreign Policy

The US military operation to capture Maduro involved at least 150 aircraft and months of surveillance, completed in approximately two and a half hours. The operation marked a significant escalation in executive military action without advance congressional notification.

Day 350 · 4 Jan 2026Foreign Policy

Trump claims the US will reclaim Venezuelan oil that he characterizes as "stolen," though experts note the US has no legal claim to the country's natural reserves. Secretary of State Rubio announced a military "quarantine" on some oil exports to pressure Venezuela's acting leadership.

Day 350 · 4 Jan 2026Foreign Policy

Venezuela's interim leader Delcy Rodríguez, the former vice president, faces the difficult task of accommodating US demands while maintaining a regime unpopular with many Venezuelans. US officials selected her over Nicolás Maduro's preference for a gilded exile as the new leader.

Day 350 · 4 Jan 2026Legal

Maduro was indicted in connection with drug trafficking charges, with the indictment attempting to link him to the Tren de Aragua gang. Co-defendants include alleged gang founder Héctor Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, indicted two weeks prior.

Day 351 · 5 Jan 2026Foreign Policy

The US conducted a military operation resulting in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who is now being held in New York to face criminal charges for drugs and weapons trafficking. The operation marked a dramatic shift in US foreign policy under Trump's administration.

Day 351 · 5 Jan 2026Foreign Policy

Venezuela's interim leader Delcy Rodríguez adopted a conciliatory tone with the US after Trump warned she could pay a 'very big price' if she failed to meet American demands. The US maintained a 15,000-strong military presence in the Caribbean as leverage.

Day 351 · 5 Jan 2026Foreign Policy

The UN Security Council met to address the US action in Venezuela, with the US ambassador defending the capture as a 'law enforcement' action against an 'illegitimate' leader rather than an act of war. The UK indicated it would abstain on any UN vote condemning the arrest.

Day 351 · 5 Jan 2026Economy

US energy stocks rose as Trump vowed to unlock Venezuela's oil reserves following Maduro's capture, though experts cautioned that reviving Venezuela's oil industry would require years of investment and face significant political and economic challenges.

Day 352 · 6 Jan 2026Foreign Policy

The Trump administration conducted a military attack on Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, who appeared in US court and pleaded not guilty. The operation sparked global condemnation, with Brazil, China, Colombia, Cuba, Mexico, Russia, South Africa and Spain denouncing it as a 'crime of aggression' at a UN meeting.

Day 353 · 7 Jan 2026Foreign Policy

The Trump administration conducted a military raid on Venezuela over the weekend, resulting in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. Top Trump officials briefed 100 U.S. senators on the operation, with Democrats condemning it while Republicans defended the president's actions.

Day 353 · 7 Jan 2026Foreign Policy

Trump claims Venezuela will supply the U.S. with $2 billion in oil and up to 50 million barrels indefinitely, with the White House indicating it will remove some sanctions to facilitate the oil supply. This move aims to cut off Venezuelan oil supplies to China and increase U.S. oil availability.

Day 354 · 8 Jan 2026Foreign Policy

Trump stated that his power is constrained only by 'my own morality' and that he does not need international law, according to a New York Times interview. The president said morality is 'the only thing that can stop me' in discussing the limits of his authority.

Day 354 · 8 Jan 2026Foreign Policy

Trump claimed Venezuela is cooperating fully and that the US will control its oil for years. The president stated that Venezuela's interim administration is doing 'everything that we feel is necessary' and plans to use Venezuelan crude reserves to cut US oil prices to $50 per barrel.

Day 354 · 8 Jan 2026Foreign Policy

The Senate advanced a war powers resolution requiring Trump to seek Congressional approval before taking further military action in Venezuela. A handful of Republicans joined Democrats to allow the measure to move forward.

Day 354 · 8 Jan 2026Foreign Policy

Thousands protested in Colombia following Trump's stated interest in military action in Colombia and his administration's intervention in Venezuela. President Gustavo Petro called for demonstrations after Trump's comments.

Day 355 · 9 Jan 2026Foreign Policy

Trump claims he has cancelled a second wave of attacks on Venezuela and maintains a large naval presence in the region. The statement came during discussions with oil company executives about investment opportunities in Venezuela's oil industry.

Day 355 · 9 Jan 2026Foreign Policy

Trump told oil company executives that he could guarantee 'total safety' for their investments in Venezuela and urged them to invest billions in the country's oil industry, despite acknowledging Venezuela is currently 'uninvestable.'

Day 355 · 9 Jan 2026Foreign Policy

In an interview with the New York Times, Trump stated that his own morality is 'the only thing that can stop me,' reflecting on his approach to foreign policy decisions regarding Venezuela, Taiwan's security, and Greenland.

Day 356 · 10 Jan 2026Foreign Policy

Trump met with oil executives and urged them to accelerate extraction operations in Venezuela, stating the U.S. would be 'extracting numbers in terms of oil like few people have seen.' The U.S. also seized another tanker carrying Venezuelan oil.

Day 357 · 11 Jan 2026Foreign Policy

President Trump threatened Cuba to 'make a deal' or face consequences, stating that no Venezuelan oil or money will flow to the island after Nicolás Maduro's fall. Cuba's president responded with defiance to the ultimatum.

Day 357 · 11 Jan 2026Foreign Policy

The U.S. State Department urged American citizens to flee Venezuela amid reports of armed 'colectivos' setting up roadblocks and searching vehicles for Americans. The advisory came amid broader U.S. involvement in the region following Nicolás Maduro's fall.

Day 361 · 15 Jan 2026Foreign Policy

The US military seized a Venezuelan oil tanker, the Veronica, in a pre-dawn operation conducted by the US Coast Guard. The seizure took place under Trump administration sanctions against Venezuela.

Day 361 · 15 Jan 2026Foreign Policy

Trump announced plans to discuss Venezuela's political future with opposition leader María Corina Machado following the capture of President Nicolás Maduro. Machado, a Nobel Prize winner, had previously been sidelined by the White House.

Day 362 · 16 Jan 2026Foreign Policy

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado presented her Nobel Peace Prize medal to Trump during a White House meeting, which Trump claimed was awarded for 'the work I have done.' Norwegian politicians criticized the action as 'absurd,' and Nobel officials clarified that Trump is not recognized as the prize laureate.

Day 362 · 16 Jan 2026Foreign Policy

Trump administration officials met with Venezuelan officials from the Maduro successor regime while María Corina Machado, the opposition leader, vowed to become Venezuela's president. The meetings suggested Trump backs the incumbent regime over the opposition.

Day 366 · 20 Jan 2026Foreign Policy

The US military seized another Venezuelan oil tanker in the Caribbean Sea, marking the seventh apprehension in Trump's campaign to control Venezuela's oil flows. The action is part of escalating pressure on the Venezuelan government.

Day 366 · 20 Jan 2026Domestic

Catholic cardinals issued a warning that Trump's foreign policy poses risks to global peace and human dignity, citing threats to Greenland, actions against Venezuela, and cuts to aid programs.

Day 374 · 28 Jan 2026Foreign Policy

Secretary of State Marco Rubio declined to rule out further U.S. military action in Venezuela at a Senate hearing, saying the administration does not intend such action but Trump reserves the option. Iraq's nominated prime minister rejected Trump's threats to cut U.S. support if the nomination proceeds.

Day 375 · 29 Jan 2026Foreign Policy

Trump ordered the immediate reopening of commercial airspace over Venezuela, allowing direct flights from the US to the country. The move comes as major oil companies are already on the ground assessing potential operations.

February 2026
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Day 385 · 8 Feb 2026Foreign Policy

President Trump has asserted a U.S. claim to seize oil from Venezuela, breaking with long-standing American diplomatic practice of not openly attempting to control foreign countries' natural resources.

Day 391 · 14 Feb 2026Domestic

US military strikes on an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean resulted in 133 deaths, marking the second such strike in a week and the first Caribbean operation since November, with most recent strikes occurring in the Pacific.

Day 394 · 17 Feb 2026Domestic

Trump administration policies on military operations killed 11 people in strikes on alleged drug boats in the eastern Pacific and Caribbean as part of the pursuit of alleged 'narco-terrorists.'

Day 474 · 8 May 2026Foreign Policy

The U.S. Department of Energy announced it seized 13.5 kilograms of enriched uranium from a reactor in Caracas, Venezuela. The seizure represents a fraction of the 408 kilograms of uranium held by Iran.

Day 481 · 15 May 2026Legal

The Trump administration moved toward indicting former Cuban leader Raúl Castro, escalating U.S. pressure on Cuba amid an ongoing fuel crisis. The action echoes the prior indictment of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Day 510 · 13 Jun 2026Foreign Policy

Trump announced that a Tren de Aragua gang leader, Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores (also known as Niño Guerrero), was killed in a 'swift and lethal' joint military strike conducted with assistance from Venezuelan authorities.

Day 525 · 28 Jun 2026Foreign Policy

The Trump administration's gutting of USAID following the overthrow of Venezuela's President Maduro in January is now hampering disaster response efforts to Venezuelan earthquakes, forcing Secretary of State Marco Rubio to scramble for effective humanitarian coordination.

Day 549 · 22 Jul 2026Legal

Former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who was seized and brought to the US earlier this year, is scheduled to face trial in June 2027 on weapons and drug charges. Maduro and his wife continue to deny all allegations against them.

August 2026
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Day 586 · 28 Aug 2026Foreign Policy

Trump announced the U.S. has reached an agreement with Venezuela securing 'majority U.S. control' of a large portion of Venezuela's oil reserves, calling it 'the biggest oil deal in world history.' Chevron is reportedly in talks to expand operations in Venezuela as the Trump administration pushes U.S. companies to invest more in the country's oil industry.

Day 587 · 29 Aug 2026Foreign Policy

President Trump announced a major deal with Venezuela granting the U.S. majority control over 65 billion barrels of proven oil reserves, claiming it as the 'biggest oil deal in world history' that will lower gasoline prices.

Day 588 · 30 Aug 2026Economy

Trump announced the U.S. will refill its Strategic Petroleum Reserve using Venezuelan oil under a deal his administration negotiated, claiming the agreement will help boost domestic energy supplies.

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