Trump Discusses Drug Cartels and Venezuela during Hannity Interview

In a recent interview with Sean Hannity, President Donald Trump announced plans to increase U.S. operations against drug cartels while celebrating the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

Trump noted, “We’ve eliminated 97% of the drugs coming in through our waterways. We’re going to start moving them over land.” He expressed concern over the prevalence of cartels in Mexico, stating, “It’s very sad to see what has happened to this country.” He also mentioned the staggering death toll from drug-related violence, estimating it at 250,000 to 300,000 lives lost annually.

This interview marked Trump’s first public appearance since Maduro’s capture. He praised U.S. military efforts in that operation, calling the personnel involved “an incredible group” that executed their mission effectively.

He elaborated on the challenges faced, “The house was in the middle of a fort, and there were thousands of people and soldiers. And we went right into the middle of the fort. Who would have thought they could do that without losing anybody?” Trump commended the planning of the operation and specifically highlighted individuals like General Kane and Pete Hegseth.

Trump did address the Cuban military presence in Venezuela, suggesting many had been “wiped out” during the recent military actions without specifying numbers. He expressed skepticism about Cuba’s ability to survive independently without Venezuelan support, stating, “Cuba is completely dependent on Venezuela for funds and oil.” He cited that Cuba also provides protection to Venezuela.

In discussing the aftermath of Maduro’s overthrow, Trump touted several successes, including Venezuela’s agreement to release political prisoners and the potential benefits from its oil, which he described as worth “billions of dollars.” The revenues from Venezuelan oil are expected to aid both the U.S. and the Venezuelan people.

He also made plans to meet with top oil executives to discuss rebuilding the country’s oil infrastructure, stating, “The top 14 companies will be here.” Additionally, he mentioned the nomination of Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Colina Machado for a Nobel Peace Prize, calling it a “tremendous honor,” and indicated that she would visit the White House soon.

The conversation later shifted to foreign policy at large, including issues in Iran. Trump issued a serious warning to the Iranian government, affirming support for the protesters there. He expressed concerns over past violence, saying, “In the past, they started shooting people outright,” and warned that if it continued, the U.S. would respond decisively.