President Donald Trump has declared that the United States military conducted a major strike on a "big facility" in Venezuela on Christmas Eve, signalling what could be the most significant escalation to date in his administration's campaign against the government of Nicolás Maduro.
Trump's Announcement and Military Buildup
During a radio interview with host John Catsimatidis on Friday, the Republican president was questioned about the situation in Venezuela. "We just knocked out, I don't know if you read or you saw, they have a big plant or a big facility…where the ships come from," Trump stated. "Two nights ago we knocked that out, so we hit them very hard." He offered no further specifics regarding the apparent operation.
This development follows months of increasing military pressure. Since September, the Pentagon has launched approximately two dozen strikes on vessels in the Caribbean suspected of drug trafficking, resulting in at least 87 fatalities. Concurrently, the U.S. has assembled the largest naval presence in the region for decades off the Venezuelan coast. The strategy has also included authorising CIA covert operations, seizing oil tankers, and imposing a coastal blockade.
"I think you're going to find that this is war," Trump warned in early December. "And very soon we're going to start doing it on land too."
Conflicting Justifications and Regional Backlash
The President has presented a mix of justifications for the aggressive posture. Speaking to Catsimatidis, he claimed, "It's about a lot of things… They took our oil… they also sent millions of people in there from jails into our country… some of the worst people on Earth. They sent drugs in."
However, these assertions are contested. While Venezuela is implicated in drug transit, it is not a primary producer of illicit narcotics, according to reports. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's 2025 assessment identifies Mexico as a leading source of synthetic opioids driving overdose deaths in America.
Maduro has vehemently denied involvement in drug trafficking, accusing the U.S. of "fabricating a new eternal war" to seize Venezuela's substantial oil reserves. In response to U.S. actions, he has mobilised troops and military assets along the coastline and called for national unity.
Domestic and International Reaction
The administration's moves have sparked significant criticism, particularly from Democratic lawmakers who label them unlawful. Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia cautioned in November against "stumbling into an illegal new war." Some Republicans, including Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, have also expressed opposition, describing strikes on drug boats as extrajudicial killings.
Nevertheless, many within the GOP support the President's stance. Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma said in November that Trump is "protecting the United States by being very proactive."
Public opinion appears divided. A CBS News survey in November found 53% of Americans approved of using military force against drug-trafficking vessels, but 70% said they would oppose military action within Venezuela itself.
When contacted for comment by The Independent, a Pentagon spokesperson referred inquiries to the White House, which had not responded by Monday.
