Former President Donald Trump reportedly delivered a direct ultimatum to Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro to relinquish power, a move revealed thru statements from Donald trump Jr. and the Venezuelan opposition group ‘Comando Con Venezuela.’ The demand comes as Maduro refuses to concede defeat following the 2024 presidential election,won by opposition candidate María Corina Machado,and amid ongoing U.S. pressure regarding alleged ties to drug trafficking. Sources indicate the Biden administration was briefed on the direct interaction, raising concerns about potential disruptions to ongoing diplomatic efforts in the region.
Donald Trump reportedly gave Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro an ultimatum to leave power, according to statements made by Donald Trump Jr. and shared by the Venezuelan opposition political platform ‘Comando Con Venezuela.’ The development comes amid escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas, and could significantly impact the political landscape of the region.
Trump Jr. revealed that his father issued the demand after a phone conversation with Maduro on November 21. During the call, the U.S. president rejected several requests from the Venezuelan leader, according to sources familiar with the discussion.
“We have a real threat to our hemisphere sitting right off our coast, and the Democrats are trying to sabotage our ability to deal with it,” Trump Jr. said. He further asserted that “Maduro is the leader of the Cartel of the Suns, a guy who was crushed in the elections [of 2024].”
According to Trump Jr., his father told Maduro to “get out of Venezuela or something else will happen.”
The ultimatum follows months of increasing pressure from Washington, including reported actions against vessels allegedly linked to drug trafficking in the Caribbean Sea. Trump has also repeatedly warned of potential military operations within Venezuelan territory and designated the Cartel of the Suns as a foreign terrorist organization.
Sources speaking to Reuters reported that Maduro offered to step down if he and his family were granted full legal immunity. This included a complete lifting of U.S. sanctions and the closure of a key case against him at the International Criminal Court.
Maduro also reportedly requested the removal of sanctions against over 100 members of his government, many of whom have been accused by Washington of human rights violations, drug trafficking, and corruption. He proposed that Vice President Delcy Rodríguez assume a temporary governing role before new elections were held.
However, Trump rejected these proposals, giving Maduro a one-week deadline to leave Venezuela with his family, according to Trump Jr.’s account. The development underscores growing regional tensions and the potential for further escalation in the crisis.
The recent communication between Trump and Maduro occurred after the Venezuelan leader lost to María Corina Machado in presidential elections, a result he did not acknowledge. Trump Jr. noted that despite the election outcome, Maduro remained in power, prompting his father’s more forceful approach.
