War Path
DEADLINE MISSED: Trump Shuts Down Maduro's Escape as Invasion Looms; Denies Hegseth 'Kill All' Order
Trump rejects Maduro's final deal for a peaceful transition, closing airspace over Venezuela; Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denies explosive WaPo report alleging an order to execute survivors of a maritime strike.
Tensions in the Venezuela reached a boiling point this weekend following revelations that President Trump issued a strict deadline for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro to step down, a deadline that has since passed, while simultaneously defending Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth against grave allegations regarding military conduct.
The Venezuela Ultimatum
According to reports surfacing Monday night, negotiations between Washington and Caracas have collapsed. Sources cited by Reuters indicate that in a recent phone call, Maduro told President Trump he was prepared to leave Venezuela. However, Maduro attached conditions that the White House found unacceptable.
The Hegseth Controversy
While managing the Venezuelan crisis, the Trump administration is also pushing back against a bombshell report from the Washington Post regarding the administration’s war on drug traffickers.
The report alleges that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave a directive to "kill everybody" aboard a suspected drug boat off the coast of Trinidad in September.
Sources claim that after an initial missile strike ignited the vessel, commanders saw two survivors clinging to the wreckage via a drone feed.
The report alleges a second strike was ordered to "comply with Hegseth’s instructions," resulting in the deaths of the survivors.
Defense Secretary Hegseth blasted the report as "fake news" and maintained that the strikes were "lawful." President Trump addressed the controversy on Sunday while returning to Washington, D.C., expressing "complete confidence" in his Defense Secretary.
"He said he did not say that, and I believe him, 100 percent," Trump stated.
When pressed on whether he would have sanctioned a second strike on survivors, Trump clarified his position: "No, I wouldn’t have wanted that, not a second strike... But Pete said that didn’t happen."
As of Tuesday morning, Maduro's administration is reportedly seeking another call with Trump, though the window for diplomacy appears to be shutting rapidly.