Name: Trump Says He’s ‘Sort of’ Made Up His Mind on Military Action Against Venezuela
Uploaded: 2025-11-17T19:23:30.000Z
Description: While U.S. forces have yet to attack Venezuela directly, they have carried out numerous strikes on suspected drug boats in the region since September.

NTD Newsroom comprises teams of reporters, editors, and producers assigned to cover breaking news and other stories.


NTD Newsroom

NTD Plus

News

News you can trust from the U.S. and around the world. Critical information and insight. We cover the stories that others don’t. NTD News Today airs Monday–Friday at 11 a.m. ET.

NTD News Today

Trump Announces National Garden of American Heroes Plans

Top Officer: Navy Funding Could Lapse by July

UK Health Secretary Quits Starmer’s Cabinet

Paul Greaney is an NTD news anchor and producer. Since joining the company in 2018, he has anchored the station’s flagship Evening News broadcast, launched the NTD Business show, and produced documentary reports on pointed issues. 

The highlight of Paul’s time in the field was his coverage of the Hong Kong pro-democracy protests in 2019.

Paul Greaney

Chinese Leader Hates It When ‘Human Rights’ Is Raised: Col. Grant Newsham on Trump’s China Visit

Man Convicted of $1 Billion Medicare Fraud in Florida

Retail Sales Rose for 3rd Straight Month in April

Former Spirit Airlines Workers Sue for Pay, Benefits

Bessent: China Needs Hormuz Strait Open More Than US

Victoria Friedman is a UK-based reporter covering a wide range of national stories.

Victoria Friedman

World News

Middle East

Israel–Hamas War

Netanyahu Considers Suing New York Times Over Column Alleging Rape of Palestinian Prisoners

Russia Unleashes Heaviest Wartime Drone Assault on Ukraine

Stefania Cox is an NTD News anchor and national correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Stefania anchors "NTD Newsroom," and co-anchors "NTD News Today" weekdays at 10:00 am ET.

Stefania Cox

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 15)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 14)

Kevin Hogan is an NTD News data reporter and national correspondent based at the network's global headquarters in New York City. Kevin covers breaking news, as well as U.S. and global current events. He conveys the news through data visualizations and investigates pressing issues.

Kevin Hogan

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 13)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 12)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 11)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 8)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 7)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 6)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 5)

NTD News Today Full Broadcast (May 4)

Fast, compelling, first-hand news from China. China in Focus airs Monday–Friday at 8 p.m. ET.

China in Focus

China Sends Warships to Pacific Drill as Tensions With Japan Rise

Reuters is a news agency owned by Thomson Reuters. It employs around 2,500 journalists and 600 photojournalists in about 200 locations worldwide writing in 16 languages.

Reuters

We present news that is truthful and based on facts, outside of the political fog. Instead of focusing on the negative things happening around us, our mission is to give our viewers a good morning with empathetic and uplifting stories. Our aim is to provide an antidote to negativity by shining a light on the best side of people. We speak to inspiring people who positively impact communities, pursue topics that represent our common human values, and will never miss an opportunity to bring you heartwarming stories.

NTD Good Morning

2 US Embassy Personnel Assigned to Cartel Case Killed in Car Accident

The Associated Press is an American not-for-profit news agency headquartered in New York City. 

The Associated Press

US News

Gunman Kills 8 Children, Including 7 of His Own, in Louisiana Mass Shooting

Flora Hua is a reporter based at NTD's global headquarters in New York City, where she covers China news, U.S.-China relations, and human rights issues. Flora primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus."  

Flora Hua

Trump: Seized Iranian Ship May Have ‘A Gift From China’

Joseph Lord is a congressional reporter for The Epoch Times.


Joseph Lord

Aldgra Fredly is a freelance writer covering U.S. and Asia Pacific news for The Epoch Times.

Aldgra Fredly

Former NYC Mayor Rudy Giuliani Hospitalized in Critical Condition: Spokesman

Wildfires Across Georgia and Florida Have Destroyed Nearly 50 Homes and Are Forcing Evacuations

US Warns of China Hacks via Routers, Smart Devices

Juliet Song is an international correspondent exclusively covering China news for NTD. She primarily contributes to NTD's "China in Focus," covering U.S.-China relations, the Chinese regime's human rights abuses, and domestic unrest inside China.

Juliet Song

2 Americans Among Suspected Communist Rebels Killed in Clashes With Troops, Philippine Officials Say

Ryan Morgan is a reporter for The Epoch Times focusing on military and foreign affairs. He was previously a news writer for NTD. 


Ryan Morgan

Mari Otsu is NTD's White House correspondent based in Washington. 

Mari Otsu

Iran

3 US Warships Fend Off Iranian Attacks, Trump Says Ceasefire Still Holds

Health News

3 Dead in Suspected Hantavirus Outbreak on Cruise Ship in Atlantic Ocean: WHO

Arian Pasdar is an international correspondent for NTD News based in South America. His reporting focuses on immigration and key events in Latin America.

Arian Pasdar

President Donald Trump said he has tentatively decided on whether the United States will attack Venezuela militarily over drug trafficking.

As he <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9LcBiPnvqPc" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">spoke</a> with reporters aboard Air Force One on Nov. 14, Trump was asked specifically whether he had decided on action against Venezuela. The president said, "I sort of have made up my mind. Yeah.

"I mean, I can't tell you what it would be, but I sort of made up my mind," he said. "We’ll see what happens. I mean, I can’t tell you what it is but we’ve made a lot of progress on Venezuela in terms of stopping drugs from pouring in."

Trump's comments come as U.S. forces are <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/us-military-conducts-20th-strike-on-alleged-drug-boat-in-caribbean-killing-4-on-board-5945209" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">massing</a> in the Caribbean Sea. The aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and three destroyer escorts reached the region this week, adding their forces to a naval buildup that already includes the Iwo Jima Amphibious Ready Group and multiple other warships.

While U.S. forces have yet to attack Venezuela directly, they have carried out numerous strikes on suspected drug boats in the region since September.

The first strike in this ongoing U.S. military campaign targeted a vessel which U.S. officials said was operated by Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan criminal organization the Trump administration had designated as a foreign terrorist organization earlier this year. Trump went on to allege that Tren de Aragua is operating under the control of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

The U.S. government has held that Maduro is not legitimately elected, and the Department of Justice has indicted him on drug trafficking charges, allegations the Venezuelan leader denies.

Maduro and his lieutenants are not idly sitting by as Trump expands U.S. military capabilities in the region and toys with the idea of strikes on land. As the Ford Carrier Strike Group arrived in the region this week, Venezuelan Defense Minister General Vladimir Padrino López <a class="article-hover-class" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tALEJmDxLIA" target="_blank" rel="noopener">announced</a> nearly 200,000 Venezuelan troops had mobilized throughout the country.

Trump has offered mixed messages in recent weeks regarding his willingness to involve the United States in a direct conflict with Venezuela over the trafficking of illicit drugs.

Last month, Trump suggested that after initial success with U.S. strikes on suspected drug traffickers at sea, he was considering strikes on land-based <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/trump-says-hes-looking-at-land-strikes-targeting-venezuela-drug-cartels-5930066">targets</a>. That same day, he announced he had authorized the CIA to conduct new covert <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/us/trump-says-he-has-authorized-covert-cia-operations-in-venezuela-5930310">actions</a> inside Venezuela.

On Oct. 31, Trump said he was not <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/trump-says-hes-not-considering-military-strikes-inside-venezuela-5938048">considering</a> U.S. strikes on Venezuela.

In an interview with CBS News that aired on Nov. 2, Trump said he <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/trump-says-he-doubts-us-will-go-to-war-with-venezuela-5938973">doubts</a> there will be a war between the United States and Venezuela, but also said Maduro's days in power are numbered.

<em>From <a href="https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/trump-says-hes-sort-of-made-up-his-mind-on-military-action-against-venezuela-5945255">The Epoch Times</a></em>

Latest

Paywall Related

Videos

Politics

04_Top Stories

Latest Clips

Free for Subscribers

Americas

Management

Executive Branch

Donald Trump

Latest and breaking news, documentaries, movies, and lifestyle content on NTD+.
 
Empower your knowledge and elevate your spirit with NTD+, your go-to destination for truthful news, insightful documentaries, and captivating lifestyle content that enriches your life.

Trump Says He’s ‘Sort of’ Made Up His Mind on Military Action Against Venezuela

Kimberly Hayek is a reporter for The Epoch Times. She covers California news and has worked as an editor and on scene at the U.S.-Mexico border during the 2019 migrant caravan crisis.