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    Trump Issues Ultimatum To Cuba

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    1
    The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

    Time is running out…

    President Donald J. Trump doubled down on his firm foreign-policy agenda Sunday, delivering a stark ultimatum to the Communist regime in Cuba.

    In a Truth Social post, Trump declared: “THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA — ZERO! I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.”

    The warning comes on the heels of a decisive U.S. operation that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro — a key ally of Havana — by U.S. forces, a watershed moment in halting the flow of oil and cash that long sustained Cuba’s moribund economy.

    Trump noted bluntly that Cuba has long depended on “large amounts of OIL and MONEY from Venezuela” — support that has now effectively ended following the removal of Maduro from power.

    The Trump administration has aggressively moved to isolate regimes that bankroll corruption, undermine democracy, and threaten American security. Venezuela’s massive oil reserves once underpinned its regional influence, including subsidized shipments to Havana — a relationship the president has now dismantled as part of a broader push to reshape Western Hemisphere energy flows and break the grip of hostile governments.

    In recent days Trump also publicly characterized Cuba’s authoritarian leadership as “sick” and close to collapse without Venezuelan support — a reflection of the island’s deep economic crisis and prolonged energy shortages in the absence of Maduro’s patronage.

    While Trump provides Cuban leaders a clear path — negotiate and engage on terms favorable to the U.S. — Havana has so far refused to back down.

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    Kimmel Targets Trump During Critics Choice Awards Acceptance Speech

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0

    Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel used his acceptance speech at Sunday’s Critics Choice Awards to take another swipe at President Donald Trump after his ABC program won Best Talk Show, continuing a yearslong feud that has made Trump a frequent target of Kimmel’s monologues.

    “A FIFA Peace Prize would have been better, but this is nice, too,” Kimmel joked from the stage, referencing FIFA President Gianni Infantino’s decision to award Trump the first-ever FIFA Peace Prize in early December. “Most of all, I want to thank our president, Donald Jennifer Trump, without whom we would be going home empty-handed tonight.”

    Kimmel went on to mock Trump directly, adding, “Thank you, Mr. President, for all the many ridiculous things you do each and every day. It’s been a banner couple of weeks, and we can’t wait to get back on the air tomorrow night to talk about them.”

    Trump and Kimmel have clashed publicly for nearly a decade, with the comedian routinely criticizing Trump’s policies, personality, and supporters on his show. Trump, in turn, has repeatedly dismissed Kimmel as a partisan entertainer and “ratings-challenged” host who uses political outrage to stay relevant.

    Kimmel’s remarks came after a turbulent year for his show. In September 2025, ABC briefly suspended Kimmel following controversial comments he made about conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The suspension sparked backlash from free-speech advocates on the right, who argued the network selectively enforces standards when conservatives are involved. Kimmel returned to the air just days later.

    During his acceptance speech, Kimmel thanked his wife, his producers, and members of the entertainment industry who supported him during the suspension.

    “Thanks to all the writers and actors and producers and union members, many of you who are in this room, who supported us, who really stepped forward and reminded us that we do not take free speech for granted in this city or in this country,” Kimmel said. “Your actions were important. We appreciate that.”

    Critics have noted the irony of Kimmel invoking free speech while routinely advocating for deplatforming or censorship of conservative voices.

    Kimmel also reflected on the year during his final episode of 2025, growing emotional as he thanked viewers for their loyalty.

    “It has been a hard year. We’ve had some lows. We’ve had some highs — for me, maybe more than any year of my life, but all of us,” he said through tears. “This year you literally pulled us out of a hole, and we cannot thank you enough personally, professionally…”

    Even in his closing message, Kimmel appeared unable to resist another jab at Trump and his supporters.

    “There is still much more good in this country than bad,” he told viewers, “and we hope that you will bear with us during this extended psychotic episode that we’re in the middle of.”

    President Trump has not publicly responded to Kimmel’s latest remarks, though allies have frequently criticized Hollywood figures for using award shows as political soapboxes while claiming to speak for “the country.”

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    Trump To Ban Corporations Buying Single-Family Homes

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    1

    President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday a plan to ban “large institutional investors” from buying “more single-family homes.”

    In a Truth Social post, the president declared the “American dream is increasingly out of reach for far too many people, especially younger Americans.” He blamed economic struggles on former President Joe Biden while announcing his plan to restrict home buying by companies.

    Trump wrote:

    For a very long time, buying and owning a home was considered the pinnacle of the American Dream. It was the reward for working hard, and doing the right thing, but now, because of the Record High Inflation caused by Joe Biden and the Democrats in Congress, that American Dream is increasingly out of reach for far too many people, especially younger Americans. It is for that reason, and much more, that I am immediately taking steps to ban large institutional investors from buying more single-family homes, and I will be calling on Congress to codify it. People live in homes, not corporations. I will discuss this topic, including further Housing and Affordability proposals, and more, at my speech in Davos in two weeks.

    Mediaite reported the housing market has faced challenges in recent years, with inflation and other economic issues leading to fewer and younger people actually buying homes. According to data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the average age of a first-time home buyer is around 40, a big jump from previous years. According to the 2025 data, first-time home buyers dropped to a record low of 21%.

    The Hill noted that the proposed ban could prove to be a way in for Trump and Republicans to address the issue of affordability ahead of this year’s midterm elections. The president and his Republican allies have struggled to message on the issue as inflation persists and as Democrats have won a number of special and off-year elections.

    In his TruthSocial post, the president laid blame on former President Biden for current inflation, which have remained stagnant during Trump’s second-term so far.

    “For a very long time, buying and owning a home was considered the pinnacle of the American Dream. It was the reward for working hard, and doing the right thing, but now, because of the Record High Inflation caused by Joe Biden and the Democrats in Congress, that American Dream is increasingly out of reach for far too many people, especially younger Americans,” the president noted. 

    House GOP just rolled out the OFFICIAL America 250 Membership & you’ve been selected for a coveted spot on the roster. This celebration will be remembered for DECADES — and we want you to have a front-row seat to it all. We’re asking a select group of TOP PATRIOTS to answer the following questions and join the House GOP’s official America 250 Membership. [Respond HERE]

    Trump Cancels Planned Second Wave Of Venezuela Attacks After Prisoner Release

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0
    President Donald Trump holds a Cabinet meeting, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in the Cabinet Room. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley)

    On Friday, President Trump said he canceled an “expected second Wave of Attacks” on Venezuela.

    The announcement came nearly a week after US military forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a shocking raid. Since then, his former vice president, Delcy Rodríguez, has been made the country’s acting president.

    Rodríguez confirmed the release of several political detainees on Friday, in a move she said was designed to “consolidate peace.” Nobel Peace Prize-winning opposition leader María Corina Machado praised the release of the prisoners as an “important day” proving that “injustice” would not prevail in the country.

    Taking to Truth Social early on Friday, Trump hailed the action as one of “cooperation” and touted major oil sector engagement, saying that at least $100 billion in investment from “BIG OIL” was in the offing:

    “Venezuela is releasing large numbers of political prisoners as a sign of ‘Seeking Peace,’” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social. “This is a very important and smart gesture. The U.S.A. and Venezuela are working well together, especially as it pertains to rebuilding, in a much bigger, better, and more modern form, their oil and gas infrastructure.”

    “Because of this cooperation, I have cancelled the previously expected second Wave of Attacks, which looks like it will not be needed, however, all ships will stay in place for safety and security purposes,” the president continued. “At least 100 Billion Dollars will be invested by BIG OIL, all of whom I will be meeting with today at The White House.”

    The scale of the releases remains unclear, but, according to the Guardian, it is estimated that Venezuela holds between 800 and 1,000 political prisoners, many of whom were detained for participating in protests following the 2024 election, which opposition figures and international observers widely believe was rigged in Maduro’s favor.

    One person who was identified as released was opposition leader Biagio Pilieri, who served on fellow opposition leader María Corina Machado’s 2024 presidential campaign.

    Another opposition member who was released was 2024 presidential candidate Enrique Márquez, who was seen on video hugging Pilieri after their release on Thursday.

    Alfredo Romero, president of the Venezuelan human rights group Foro Penal, hesitated to say this was “the beginning of the dismantling of a repressive system in Venezuela … and not a mere gesture, a charade of releasing some prisoners and incarcerating others,” the news wire reported. As of Dec. 29, Romero’s organization stated that Venezuela has 863 political prisoners in custody.

    Spain’s government said five of its citizens were also released. Two of them, Andrés Martínez and José María Basoa, were arrested by Venezuelan authorities in September 2024, accused of being Spanish spies attempting to destabilize Maduro’s government. Spain denied these allegations.

    Trump’s own claim about holding back strikes comes amidst escalating political fallout in Washington after the Senate advanced a War Powers Resolution on Thursday, with the backing of several Republicans.

    President Trump is asking his most dedicated supporters. Where should his meet & greet be held? Mar-a-Lago or Trump Tower? Respond now!

    DeSantis Launches Florida Redistricting Push 

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0

    On Wednesday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis launched a redistricting effort to potentially secure additional Republican congressional seats in the state.

    DeSantis announced the move, saying he will be convening a special session for the state legislature to adjust current maps. The move comes as red and blue states across the country have pursued redistricting to secure an advantage in the 2026 midterm elections.

    “Today, I announced that I will be convening a Special Session of the Legislature focused on redistricting to ensure that Florida’s congressional maps accurately reflect the population of our state. Every Florida resident deserves to be represented fairly and constitutionally,” DeSantis wrote.

    “This Special Session will take place after the regular legislative session, which will allow the Legislature to first focus on the pressing issues facing Floridians before devoting its full attention to congressional redistricting in April,” he added.

    Currently, Republicans hold 20 of Florida’s 28 congressional districts. Florida Republicans may also face challenges because of language in the state’s constitution that puts tight restrictions on gerrymandering.

    Texas and California have also pursued major redistricting efforts, with Texas overcoming some initial pushback from the courts.

    In early December, the Supreme Court delivered a significant victory to Texas Republicans, clearing the way for a new congressional map that could add up to five GOP-leaning seats in 2026. In a 6-3 ruling, the justices halted a lower court order and said Texas can use the map while the legal fight plays out.

    Florida is another key battleground where redistricting could bolster Republican prospects. Governor Ron DeSantis has already demonstrated a willingness to redraw maps, most notably by dismantling a North Florida district long viewed as favorable to Democrats. Further tweaks ahead of 2026 could reinforce Republican dominance in the state by locking in gains made over the last two cycles and reducing the number of truly competitive districts. (RELATED: Supreme Court Clears Texas To Use GOP-Friendly Map In 2026)

    Similarly, in states like Ohio and Tennessee, GOP legislators continue to test the limits of court rulings and constitutional constraints, seeking maps that better reflect — in their view — statewide partisan preferences, which currently favor Republicans.

    While these redistricting efforts are unlikely to produce a dramatic wave of new GOP seats on their own, they could prove decisive in a narrowly divided House. With margins expected to be razor-thin, even two or three additional Republican-leaning districts may be enough to offset losses from retirements or difficult midterm headwinds.

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    White House Confirms It’s Working to ‘Acquire Greenland’

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
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    0
    The White House, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

    President Donald Trump’s White House has officially confirmed that the administration is actively exploring options to acquire Greenland, a strategic Arctic territory currently part of the Kingdom of Denmark.

    In a statement to Reuters this week, the White House made clear that President Trump sees Greenland as essential to America’s defense posture:

    “President Trump has made it well known that acquiring Greenland is a national security priority of the United States, and it’s vital to deter our adversaries in the Arctic region. The president and his team are discussing a range of options to pursue this important foreign policy goal, and of course, utilizing the U.S. military is always an option at the commander-in-chief’s disposal,” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

    Trump’s interest in Greenland is rooted in longstanding strategic logic: the island sits in the high Arctic between North America, Russia, and Europe, giving it unique value for early warning systems, missile defense, space tracking, and controlling emerging Arctic shipping routes as sea ice recedes. The U.S. already operates the Pituffik Space Base on Greenland under longstanding defense arrangements and has eyed the island for more than a century in light of its military advantages.

    This isn’t a new idea. President Trump first floated purchasing Greenland from Denmark during his first term, and his Secretary of State has repeatedly emphasized that the proposal is serious and part of protecting U.S. interests.

    While diplomacy remains the preferred path — including potential purchase negotiations or a Compact of Free Association with Greenland — the White House statement made clear that no option is off the table, including deploying military measures.

    International Reaction

    Denmark — a reliable NATO ally — has strongly rebuked the notion of U.S. control over Greenland. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen responded bluntly, saying:

    “It makes absolutely no sense to talk about the need for the United States to take over Greenland.”

    She emphasized Denmark’s commitment to mutual defense with the U.S. under NATO and urged Washington to respect Greenland’s sovereignty. Greenland’s own Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen called Trump’s remarks “very rude and disrespectful,” underscoring that Greenlanders themselves have clearly rejected becoming a U.S. territory.

    Despite the international pushback, the Trump administration argues Greenland should be part of a forward-looking defense strategy that safeguards U.S. interests amidst great-power competition.

    This development follows broader Trump administration efforts in Latin America — including the recent arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro

    Hours after the dramatic U.S. military operation in Venezuela, President Donald Trump sharply escalated his rhetoric toward other foreign governments, criticizing Colombia’s president and reviving his long-standing idea of acquiring Greenland.

    Trump, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, was initially responding to questions about a U.S. military operation in Caracas that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, as well as the future of Venezuela, when he shifted his focus to another South American country.

    “Columbia’s very sick too, run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States. And he’s not going to be doing it very long. Let me tell you,” Trump said.

    When pressed by a reporter to clarify his remarks, Trump claimed that Gustavo Petro has “cocaine mills and cocaine factories.”

    “It sounds good to me,” Trump responded.

    “So there will be an operation by the U.S. in Colombia?” the reporter asked.

    This race is a coin flip and Vivek NEEDS your help. Vivek Ramaswamy is defending the fundamental truths of America but he can’t do it alone. Join the fight and donate today!

    Republican Congressman Hospitalized In Car Accident

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    0
    Photo via Pixabay images

    Rep. Jim Baird (R-Ind.) has reportedly been hospitalized after a car accident.

    Baird is responsive and in stable condition, Fox News reported.

    Baird’s hospitalization came moments after it was announced House GOP Rep. Doug LaMalfa (R-Calif.) had suddenly passed away at age 65.

    LaMalfa represented part of California and was chair of the Congressional Western Caucus.

    “Jacquie and I are devastated about the sudden loss of our friend, Congressman Doug LaMalfa. Doug was a loving father and husband, and staunch advocate for his constituents and rural America. Our prayers are with Doug’s wife, Jill, and their children,” Emmer said.

    His death brings House Republicans’ majority down to 218 to 213. 

    Machado Says She’d Personally Give Nobel Peace Prize to Trump After Maduro’s Capture

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    1
    By Kevin Payravi - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=179718533

    Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado said she would “love” to personally give her Nobel Peace Prize to President Donald Trump, following U.S. air strikes that led to the capture of longtime socialist strongman Nicolás Maduro — a dramatic operation that reshaped the political future of Venezuela and the region.

    Machado made the remarks Monday during an appearance on Fox News’ Hannity, where host Sean Hannity pressed her on reports that Trump had declined to support her as Venezuela’s interim leader because she had accepted the Nobel Prize herself — an award Trump has publicly sought for years.

    Over the weekend, Trump ordered precision air strikes in Caracas, culminating in the capture of Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The operation drew predictable backlash from Democrats and the media, who criticized Trump for acting without prior congressional authorization and questioned the risks of regime change. Critics also pointed to Trump’s December pardon of former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández, despite Maduro’s well-documented record of brutal repression, narco-trafficking ties, and his illegal seizure of a third term in July 2024 after opposition candidate Edmundo González won the election by a wide margin.

    Machado herself had been barred from the ballot by Maduro’s regime, despite winning the opposition’s independently run presidential primary with more than 92 percent of the vote.

    The day after Maduro’s capture, Trump publicly cast doubt on Machado’s viability as an interim leader.

    “It would be very tough for her to be the leader,” Trump said, claiming she “doesn’t have the support or the respect within the country.”

    According to The Washington Post, Trump’s rejection stunned members of the Venezuelan opposition. Two sources close to the White House told the paper that Machado’s decision to accept the Nobel Peace Prize last year — rather than explicitly refusing it in Trump’s name — was viewed as an “ultimate sin” by a president who has long believed he deserved the honor.

    “If she had turned it down and said, ‘I can’t accept it because it’s Donald Trump’s,’ she’d be the president of Venezuela today,” one source said.

    Trump has repeatedly argued over the years that his historic diplomatic efforts — including the Abraham Accords, North Korea negotiations, and Middle East ceasefires — merited a Nobel Peace Prize, particularly after former President Barack Obama received the award early in his presidency. Trump has frequently mocked the Nobel Committee for what he views as partisan double standards.

    On Hannity, the Fox News host opened the interview by laying out Machado’s record and the stakes ahead.

    “Following the capture of Maduro over the weekend, the end of his horrific regime, the question remains, who will succeed the brutal dictator and bring much-needed change and freedom to the country?” Hannity said.

    He noted that Machado had dedicated her Nobel Prize “to the suffering people of Venezuela and to President Trump for his decisive support of our cause,” and had repeatedly praised Trump publicly for his leadership.

    Machado thanked Hannity and Fox News for their “incredible support… throughout all this long journey for the cause of democracy for our people in Venezuela,” before recounting how the opposition organized behind González after she was banned from running.

    “We defeated Maduro by a landslide — it was incredible, under extreme conditions, unfair conditions,” she said.

    Hannity then asked directly about the Nobel Prize dedication.

    “It’s not very usual,” Hannity said, “that people will dedicate the Nobel Peace Prize to the leader of a different country and say publicly, he deserves this more than I do. But you did that.”

    “Let me be very clear,” Machado replied. “As soon as I learned that we had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, I dedicated it to Trump because I knew at that point, he deserved it.”

    She praised Trump’s decisive military action, saying many believed it was “impossible to achieve what he has just done on Saturday, January 3rd.”

    “January 3rd will go down in history as the day justice defeated tyranny,” Machado said, calling the operation a “milestone” for Venezuela, “humanity, freedom, and human dignity.”

    Asked whether she had spoken directly to Trump, Machado said the two last spoke on October 10, the day the Nobel prizes were announced. She emphasized her gratitude for Trump’s leadership.

    “He has taken historical actions against these narco-terrorists, to start dismantling the structure and bringing Maduro to justice,” she said. “That means that 30 million Venezuelans are now closer to freedom — but also the United States of America is a safer country nowadays.”

    Hannity also addressed reports that Machado had offered to give Trump the Nobel Prize outright.

    “Well, it hasn’t happened yet,” Machado said. “But I would certainly love to be able to personally tell him that we believe — the Venezuelan people, because this is a prize of the Venezuelan people — certainly want to give it to him and share it with him.”

    Watch:

    Meanwhile, the Washington Post reports that the U.S. is now working with Delcy Rodríguez, Maduro’s former vice president and interim leader, who controversially claimed the operation to capture Maduro had a “Zionist tint.”

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    Democrats Attempt To Label Trump’s Venezuela Operation ‘Impeachable Offense’

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    5

    Democrats and Republicans have split sharply over President Donald Trump’s decision to carry out strikes in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, with a growing number of Democratic lawmakers calling the operation unconstitutional and some openly urging impeachment.

    Progressive Democrats have led the backlash, accusing the administration of launching an illegal military action without congressional authorization. Several lawmakers argue that the operation amounts to an invasion of a sovereign nation and violates both the Constitution and the War Powers Act.

    “Many Americans woke up to a sick sense of déjà vu,” Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.) a member of the House’s progressive “Squad,” wrote on X over the weekend. “Under the guise of liberty, an administration of warmongers has lied to justify an invasion and is dragging us into an illegal, endless war so they can extract resources and expand their wealth.”

    Ramirez called for Congress to pass a War Powers Resolution introduced by Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., aimed at blocking further military action against Venezuela, and said Trump “must be impeached.”

    Omar’s resolution seeks to reassert Congress’ constitutional authority over war-making and would require the administration to halt hostilities unless lawmakers explicitly approve them.

    Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) echoed those concerns, criticizing Trump for bypassing Congress to launch what he described as a war with Venezuela. Goldman said the administration failed to provide lawmakers with “any satisfactory explanation” for the strikes.

    “This violation of the United States Constitution is an impeachable offense,” Goldman said in a statement. “I urge my Republican colleagues in the House of Representatives to finally join Democrats in reasserting congressional authority by holding this president accountable.”

    Other Democrats struck a more cautious tone. Rep. April McClain Delaney (D-Md.) stopped short of naming Trump but wrote on X that “invading and running another country without a congressional declaration of war is an impeachable offense,” while also questioning whether impeachment is the most effective strategy. “Whether it makes sense to pursue impeachment as the best strategy to end this lawlessness is a tactical judgment that our Caucus needs to seriously deliberate,” she wrote.

    In California, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) a gubernatorial hopeful, said he would not rule out supporting impeachment when asked by reporters, according to the Pleasanton Weekly.

    Progressive candidates running for office also weighed in. Kat Abughazaleh, a Democrat seeking an open House seat in Illinois, called Trump a “war criminal” in a post on Bluesky and demanded Congress “halt this conflict and impeach” the president.

    Still, Democrats are not unified in their opposition. A number of more centrist lawmakers have either defended the administration’s actions or argued that the removal of Maduro serves U.S. national security interests. Some Democrats have described the operation as a targeted effort to remove a destabilizing authoritarian leader rather than the start of a broader war, while others have said the administration should now work with Congress to define limits and next steps.

    Republicans, for their part, have largely rallied behind Trump. GOP leaders characterized the operation as a decisive blow against a longtime adversary of the United States and a win for regional stability.

    Senior Republicans have also pushed back on claims that the administration violated the Constitution, arguing that the action was a limited law enforcement or counterterrorism operation rather than a traditional military engagement requiring prior congressional approval.

    While impeachment calls are growing among progressives, Democratic leadership has so far stopped short of endorsing that approach

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    Trump Sends Ultimatum to Maduro Allies as U.S. Signals End to Negotiations

    By
    Madeleine Jackson
    -
    1
    President Donald Trump monitors U.S. military operations in Venezuela, from Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida, on Saturday, January 3, 2026.

    President Donald Trump has delivered a blunt message to Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro and his inner circle: cooperate with the United States—or step aside.

    Fox News senior foreign correspondent Benjamin Hall revealed Sunday that Trump personally warned Maduro’s allies that they must either “surrender or play ball,” underscoring what the administration describes as a decisive shift away from diplomacy and toward direct action.

    According to Hall, President Trump spoke directly with Maduro roughly a week before Saturday’s strike in Caracas. During that call, Trump reportedly issued a clear ultimatum demanding Maduro’s surrender. Maduro, Trump said, “was not willing.”

    Hall noted that while Maduro has now been removed, several senior figures within the Venezuelan regime remain aligned with him, presenting an ongoing challenge for U.S. policymakers seeking stability in the region and an end to what they describe as narco-terrorist activity emanating from the country.

    Operation Absolute Resolve – January 3rd, 2026

    That message was reinforced by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who made clear that the Trump administration has no intention of tolerating continued obstruction from Venezuela’s remaining leadership.

    “President Trump is done negotiating. He proved that a couple of days ago, that he is a man of action, that when someone is threatening the United States, he will defend it with every resource that we have, and he’ll continue to do that,” Noem said on Fox News Sunday.

    Noem explained that Trump’s communications with Venezuela’s vice president were deliberately direct and unambiguous.

    “His conversations now with the vice president in Venezuela are very matter-of-fact and very clear: ‘You can lead, or you can get out of the way because we’re not going to allow you to continue to subvert our American influence and our need to have a free country like Venezuela to work with rather than to have dictators in place who perpetuate crimes and drug trafficking,’” she said.

    Her remarks followed the Trump administration’s high-profile operation on Saturday that resulted in the capture of Nicolás Maduro—an unprecedented move that sparked intense debate in Washington. While Democrats and some Republicans raised questions about the legality of the action and the long-term implications for Venezuela, supporters of the operation argued it sent a long-overdue message to hostile regimes.

    The operation capped months of U.S. efforts to dismantle what officials describe as a network of narcoterrorism tied to the Venezuelan government. Those efforts included strikes against suspected drug trafficking vessels operating in Caribbean waters and increased enforcement against illicit oil shipments.

    Noem pointed to those actions as further proof that the administration is committed to protecting American security interests and cutting off financial lifelines to adversarial governments.

    “The Coast Guard has been heavily involved in stopping a lot of this shadow fleet of oil that has been trafficking illegally to many of our enemies in other countries,” she said.

    Administration officials argue that Venezuela’s instability has long fueled drug trafficking, mass migration, and regional insecurity, and that decisive action was necessary after years of what they view as failed appeasement. Supporters say Trump’s approach represents a return to peace through strength—using American power to deter threats before they reach U.S. shores.

    Stand with Byron Donalds. Stand with Trump. Stand with MAGA. Your support right now helps secure victory. CHIP IN TO BACK BYRON DONALDS FOR GOVERNOR.
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