In a dramatic moment that perfectly captured his no-nonsense style, President Donald Trump dropped a sharp F-bomb aimed directly at Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro during a cabinet meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The exchange came as tensions between Washington and Caracas continue to flare over U.S. military action in the Caribbean.
A Blunt Response to a Provocative Question
When a reporter asked Trump about reports that Maduro had “offered everything” to the U.S. following airstrikes on Venezuelan drug boats, the president didn’t hold back. “He has offered everything, you’re right,” Trump shot back.
“You know why? Because he doesn’t want to f*ck around with the United States.”
It was a vintage Trump moment — blunt, unapologetic, and sure to make headlines across Latin America and beyond.
U.S. Strike on Venezuelan Drug Boat Sparks International Buzz
The fiery comment came shortly after the U.S. military confirmed that it had targeted a suspected Venezuelan drug vessel earlier in the week.
Two people were rescued from the wreckage and are now being held aboard a Navy ship, while two others were reportedly killed in the strike.
The Pentagon described the incident as part of an ongoing campaign against what Trump has called “narcoterrorist” threats operating in the Caribbean.
Early reports suggested the vessel may have been a submarine-like drug boat, possibly struck by another submarine during the operation.
Trump Confirms Use of Submarine in Operation
During his cabinet meeting with Zelensky, Trump offered additional details about the mission, confirming, “That was a submarine — a drug-carrying submarine built specifically for transporting massive amounts of narcotics.
Just so you understand, this was not an innocent group of people.”
His words were a direct attempt to justify the aggressive military strategy the U.S. has adopted against Venezuelan drug networks since his return to the White House.
U.S. Forces Conduct Drills Near Venezuelan Waters
Adding to the rising tension, U.S. Special Operations aviation forces were recently spotted conducting maneuvers less than 90 miles off Venezuela’s coast, according to The Washington Post.
Officials told the paper the flights were part of training exercises for a potential land-based mission to neutralize suspected traffickers.
Over the last two months, the U.S. military has reportedly destroyed five Venezuelan vessels carrying illegal narcotics through the Caribbean, resulting in around 27 deaths.
CIA Given Green Light for Covert Operations
Trump also announced earlier this week that he has authorized the Central Intelligence Agency to carry out missions inside Venezuela.
In a post on Truth Social, he revealed that the Secretary of War had ordered a “lethal kinetic” strike on a narco-terrorist vessel — an operation Trump said was personally approved by him and executed by military commentator Pete Hegseth.
Reports indicate that the mission killed six suspected traffickers in international waters.
Maduro Fires Back, Accuses Trump of Plotting a Coup
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro wasted no time in responding.
In a televised address, he accused Trump and the CIA of attempting yet another regime change effort in Latin America, calling the U.S. actions “desperate.”
“How long will the CIA continue with its coups? Latin America doesn’t want them, doesn’t need them, and repudiates them,” Maduro declared, framing the U.S. intervention as an act of imperial aggression.
A Renewed Battle Between Washington and Caracas
Since returning to office, Trump has labeled Maduro both a drug lord and a dictator, vowing to dismantle his network of power and influence.
The latest wave of military strikes and intelligence operations suggest that Washington’s confrontation with Caracas is only intensifying.
With two world leaders — Trump and Maduro — locked in a war of words, and U.S. forces operating perilously close to Venezuelan shores, the situation in the Caribbean looks set to remain a major geopolitical flashpoint.