White House Prepares for Strategic Meeting on Venezuela

The White House is gearing up for a key strategic meeting on Venezuela. This meeting coincides with the approach of Christmas, and also the administration’s ninth Cabinet meeting of the week.

Confirming a report by CNN, the White House announced that President Trump plans to meet with Cabinet members and national security officials on Monday evening to discuss future actions related to Venezuela.

On Sunday, President Trump revealed he had a phone conversation with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. This comes as tensions flare between the two countries amidst the Trump administration’s crackdown on suspected drug traffickers in Latin America.

The discussion is taking place after President Trump suggested on Saturday that pilots and traffickers should seriously think about avoiding the airspace surrounding Venezuela. However, when asked if an airstrike was on the horizon, he advised reporters not to “read too much into anything.” It’s a bit unclear what he really means there.

This meeting has stirred up scrutiny from lawmakers after a report indicated that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had ordered no survivors in an attack on an alleged drug smuggling ship. It appears there was a follow-up strike as well.

While Hegseth denied those claims, calling them “fabricated,” White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt acknowledged that a second attack occurred. She emphasized that General Frank Bradley, in charge of U.S. Special Operations Command, acted within his rights. “On September 2nd, Secretary Hegseth authorized Admiral Bradley to conduct these strikes,” Levitt explained, although she dismissed the notion that Hegseth ordered anyone on board to be killed.

Levitt firmly stated, “I deny that the Secretary of the Army ever said that,” further adding that the president has made it clear that narco-terrorists involved in trafficking drugs into the U.S. could face lethal action.

Lawmakers from both parties are seeking more clarity on the situation. “This committee is committed to providing rigorous oversight,” said Rep. Mike Rogers and Rep. Adam Smith in a joint statement. They expressed seriousness about reports involving vessels suspected of transporting narcotics and are taking bipartisan steps to uncover a full account of the operations.

The Trump administration has engaged in over 20 airstrikes against suspected vessels involved in drug smuggling in Latin American waters. There’s a noticeable increase in military presence in the Caribbean, which is consistent with the administration’s goals regarding drug flow into the U.S.

Looking ahead, President Trump is also planning a Cabinet meeting to introduce the so-called “Trump Account,” a new tax-advantaged savings and investment account stemming from legislation signed into law in July, known as the “Big and Beautiful Act.” Details on these accounts are still forthcoming.

Additionally, he will welcome the leaders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo for the signing of an agreement aimed at addressing ongoing conflicts in Congo.

On another note, President Trump is set to attend the FIFA World Cup final draw on Friday, with the tournament scheduled to take place in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico in mid-2026.

Meanwhile, the White House has revealed its Christmas theme for 2025, chosen by First Lady Melania Trump: “Home is where the heart is.” Tours of the decorated White House are set to start on Tuesday.

This year’s decorations include an impressive 25,000 feet of ribbon, over 2,000 bundles of lights, and more than 50 Christmas trees scattered throughout. The details of this year’s festive setup aim to represent the spirit of America under the chosen theme.