Trump Says Maduro’s Days Leading Venezuela Are Numbered

President Donald Trump in an interview that aired Sunday agreed that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s “days as president are numbered.”

Trump sat for an interview with CBS News’ “60 Minutes,” his first interview with the program in five years. CBS correspondent Norah O’Donnell asked the president about the future of Maduro, who Trump first demanded step down in 2018, leading Venezuela.

“On Venezuela in particular, are Maduro’s days as president numbered?” O’Donnell asked.

Trump replied: “I would say yeah. I think so, yeah.”

Reports late last week suggested that the Trump administration has looked at land targets in Venezuela to strike as part of its escalating efforts to crack down on drug trafficking to the United States. The targets reportedly consist of military assets that have been used in the drug trade.

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Trump said last month that he has approved CIA operations in Venezuela to counter the drug trade and Maduro, whom his administration has identified as a top cartel leader and imposed a $50 million bounty on.

Trump dismissed O’Donnell’s questions regarding any plans to launch military strikes on Venezuelan territory.

“I’m not saying it’s true or untrue,” said Trump of reports of potential strikes.

“I wouldn’t be inclined to say that I would do that. But – because I don’t talk to a reporter about whether or not I’m gonna strike,” said Trump. “You’re a wonderful reporter, you’re very talented, but I’m not going to tell you what I’m going to do with Venezuela, if I was gonna do it, or if I wasn’t going to do it.”

Trump also played coy when asked about his decision last week to deploy the USS Gerald R Ford carrier and its strike group to the Caribbean. The Ford is the newest and most advanced aircraft carrier in the U.S. fleet.

“It’s gotta be somewhere. It’s a big one,” Trump said when asked what purpose the Ford serves in the Caribbean.

Norah O’Donnell: “Is it about stopping narcotics or is it about getting rid of [Venezuelan dictator Nicolás] Maduro?”

President Trump: “This is about many things.”

Norah O’Donnell: “Are Maduro’s days as president numbered?”

President Trump: “I would say yeah, I think so,… pic.twitter.com/RBdCwn5xW2

— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) November 3, 2025