“Maduro’s Clock Is Ticking” – Trump Says Venezuela’s Leader’s Days Are Numbered in Fiery ‘60 Minutes’ Interview

President Donald Trump sent shockwaves through international circles Sunday night after declaring that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s “days are numbered,” during a tense interview on CBS’ 60 Minutes. While defending recent U.S. military strikes in the Caribbean, Trump accused Maduro’s regime of “flooding America with criminals” and “emptying prisons and mental institutions into the U.S.” The president dismissed fears of a looming war, insisting the strikes were focused on narcotics operations, but his tone suggested a tightening noose around Venezuela’s embattled leadership. “I doubt we’ll go to war,” Trump told host Norah O’Donnell, “but they’ve been treating us very badly—not only on drugs. They’ve been dumping their worst people into our country.”

The comments follow a series of U.S. military operations targeting drug-laden vessels near Venezuela, which have reportedly killed dozens of suspected narco-terrorists. The deployment of the USS Gerald R. Ford and its strike group to the region has fueled speculation of a larger geopolitical shift in Latin America. When pressed about whether the buildup hinted at plans for regime change, Trump sidestepped directly but hinted broadly: “It’s about many things,” he said, calling Venezuela’s actions “disgraceful” and vowing to protect U.S. borders from “criminal infiltration.” Analysts say the president’s rhetoric could mark the most serious pressure on Maduro’s government since Washington recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó in 2019.

While Trump refused to confirm or deny reports of potential land strikes in Venezuela, his closing remark—“I would say, yeah, Maduro’s days are numbered”—set off alarm bells in diplomatic circles from Caracas to Washington. Both the White House and Secretary of State Marco Rubio later denied any active plans for a ground offensive, while Secretary of War Pete Hegseth declined to comment on “operational details.” Still, the president’s blunt warning has reignited global debate about U.S. interventionism and Latin America’s political future. As the Caribbean heats up and U.S. warships draw near, one thing is clear: Washington is signaling that the sun may soon set on Maduro’s turbulent reign.