In a move sending shockwaves across the Americas, former US President Donald Trump has hinted at potential future action against Mexico following the dramatic capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
Operation in Caracas Precedes Stark Warning
The development came during an interview on the Fox and Friends programme on 3 January 2026. It followed a US special forces raid in the early hours of that morning in Caracas, which resulted in the apprehension of President Maduro and his wife.
Trump, who approved the operation earlier in the week, linked it to a months-long bombing campaign in the Caribbean. That campaign was ostensibly aimed at stopping the flow of narcotics from Latin America into the United States.
'Something is Gonna Have to Be Done' with Mexico
When asked by presenter Griff Jenkins if the Venezuela mission was a message for Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Trump's response was pointed. Speaking ahead of a news conference at Mar-a-Lago, he stated, "Well, it wasn't meant to be, and we're very friendly with her and she's a good woman but the cartels are running Mexico. She's not running Mexico."
He elaborated, claiming he had asked Sheinbaum "number times" if she wanted US help to "take out the cartels." Trump concluded with a stark warning: "Something is gonna have to be done with Mexico."
Fentanyl Crisis Fuels Cross-Border Tensions
The comments underscore the long-standing US focus on drug trafficking across its southern border. While Trump had frequently accused Maduro's regime of allowing drugs to flood from Venezuela, the primary conduit remains Mexico.
According to the US Government Accountability Office, fentanyl entering via Mexico is the leading cause of drug overdose deaths in America. It is estimated that 48,000 people died from opioid-related deaths in 2024 alone.
These tragic figures were cited as the primary justification for the recent Caribbean bombing campaigns targeting vessels from Venezuela.
Following the Fox News interview, Trump shared an image of the captured Maduro on board the USS Iwo Jima, wearing a grey outfit and black glasses.
