President Donald Trump has reportedly decided to order attacks on Venezuela's military installations.
Sources told the Miami Herald that the strikes could come at any moment. The Trump administration has suggested that it is opposing the Sóles drug cartel.
According to the paper, the targets "could be struck by air in a matter of days or even hours" in an effort to destroy the cartel hierarchy.
Trump has been clear that he wants Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro out of power. Earlier this month, the U.S. president reportedly ordered covert CIA operations in Venezuela. The Herald's sources "declined to say" if Maduro was a target.
On Friday, Trump denied that he had decided on strikes inside the country. The president's remarks came as the FAA issued flight restrictions over Ceiba, Puerto Rico, a potential refueling site for U.S. military airstrikes.
President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. will resume testing its nuclear weapons, stating that the move is necessary because America's adversaries have done so.
While the U.S. has the top military equipment in the world, spending several times more than other countries, Trump wants the U.S. to start blowing things up again. The problem, however, is that the government shutdown means the people who deal specifically with nuclear issues are furloughed.
Speaking to MSNBC on Thursday, Ian Bremmer, founder and president of the Eurasia Group, said that the tit-for-tat between Trump and Putin can't start right away.
"Well, they can't start nuclear testing now because the officials that would be in charge of that have mostly been furloughed," said Bremmer. "So, you have to get the government started. I guess that's an irony."
He noted that it appears to be a direct response from Trump to Russian President Vladimir Putin's threats to begin nuclear testing. Trump withdrew the United States from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty with Russia in August 2019.
Bremmer noted that it was revealed that Russia had a successful test of a nuclear-powered cruise missile, "which had the ability to hit the United States easily. And a torpedo, but that was not a nuclear test. It appears the president was confused about that and responded by saying, 'Yeah, we're gonna start doing nuclear testing.'"
The U.S. joined the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in 1996, and Bremmer thinks if the U.S. began testing again, then the Russians and Chinese would quickly follow.
When President Donald Trump was in China, he left Xi Jinping with very little. But one reporter noticed it was similar to what Trump got with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"I mean, look, it'sthe old diplomatic strategy, right?Take what you get, declare victory, and go home," said New York Times reporter Peter Baker, speaking to MSNBC's Katy Tur. "Whether it is a victory or not, beyond being able to say you've got one is the bigger question."
At this point, however, Baker said that Trump's wins look "modest."
"I was struck when the president said that he gave this a 12 on a scale of 10 for being a great meeting, and that they made a lot of progress and 'We're very close on some important things,'" Baker quoted. "That's almost word-for-word the things he said when he met in Alaska with Vladimir Putin. I was there in the room for that, he said. It was a 10 out of 10, not 12, but it was a 10 out of 10. 'And they made a lot of progress. And we're very close on some really important things.'"
Trump visited Alaska to meet with Putin and lobby for an end to the war in Ukraine.
"And of course, we all know what happened after Alaska, which is nothing," said Baker. "So, you know, you've got to be careful about overevaluating how much this will be worth. If it means, though, that there is sort of a, kind of a truce in a way, that there is a less hostile relationship for them now."
The exchanges, he said, are less hostile and less volatile, and that's the only real progress.
President Donald Trump spoke on an aircraft carrier off the coast of Japan on Tuesday, and his comments were so overly political and partisan that one retired four-star general was left disgusted.
Speaking in Japan, Trump teased the possibility of more wars, despite his 2024 election pledge to get the United States out of international wars and consider "America First" policies.
"We will not be politically correct. You don't mind that, do you? When it comes to defending the United States, we're no longer politically correct," Trump rambled. "We're going to defend our country any way we have to. And that's usually not the politi-, politically correct way. From now on, if we're in a war, we're going to win the war. We're going to win it like nobody ever before. You know, we'd go in with — we'd blast the hell out of countries. Shouldn't have gone in. By the way, if you don't go in, that's even better. We don't have to go in peace through strength. But, you know, we'd go in, we'd win, and then we'd leave. They used to say to the victor belong the spoils. Well, we'd be the victor. Then we'd leave. Because we had people that didn't know what the hell they were doing."
MSNBC's Jonathan Lemire said it's hardly anything new to see Trump treat military events like campaign rallies. This is his third example.
Speaking to Katy Tur on Tuesday, retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey said that it may not be new, but it isn't right.
"He's unconstrained. And I think when you take that presentation aboard the carrier in Tokyo Bay, which sounded unhinged and was cringeworthy."
He noted the new Japanese Prime Minister was also on hand as troops chanted USA.
"It was bellicose. It was resonating with those young sailors. That's the other thing. You know, there is a widespread feeling among some in the military to push back against what they consider woke strictures on the armed forces. So we ought to be concerned about this," the general continued.
"If that speech in Tokyo aboard a carrier had been made by a military officer, he would have been canned and court martialed for violation of politicization of the military," McCaffrey continued. "But we got a real problem. This message is being heard, and people are responding to Trump's rhetoric."
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) blasted the Trump administration Sunday for its ongoing military strikes on suspected drug traffickers in the Caribbean, labeling them as “extrajudicial killings” that he argued were similar to how the Iranian or Chinese governments operate.
“The drug or the crime war has typically been something we do through law enforcement, and so far they have alleged that these people are drug dealers,” Paul said, appearing on Fox News Sunday.
“No one's said their name, no one's said what evidence, no one's said whether they're armed, and we've had no evidence presented. So at this point, I would call them extrajudicial killings. This is akin to what China does, to what Iran does with drug dealers, they summarily execute people without presenting evidence to the public, so it's wrong.”
President Donald Trump has authorized at least ten strikes on suspected drug-carrying sea vessels since September, killing at least 43 people that his administration has labeled as “narco-terrorists.” The strikes have received widespread bi-partisan condemnation for potentially being a violation of international law, with the most-recent strike occurring late Thursday night into Friday morning, killing six.
Trump’s authority to authorize the strikes has also been questioned by critics, who point to Congress’ sole authority to approve declarations of war. Congress has not approved the strikes, and, according to Paul, have not even been briefed on the operations, or the evidence – should any exist – that those targeted were actually engaged in drug trafficking.
“We haven't had a briefing; to be clear, we've gotten no information, I've been invited to no briefing, but a briefing is not enough to overcome the Constitution,” Paul said. “The Constitution says that when you go to war, Congress has to vote on it, and during a war, there's a lower rules for engagement, and people do sometimes get killed without due process.”
Rand Paul on Trump's strikes on boats: "I would call them extrajudicial killings. This is akin to what China does, what Iran does with drug dealers -- they summarily execute people without presenting evidence to the public. So it's wrong." pic.twitter.com/NPCIt9kzgT — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) October 26, 2025
Donald Trump Saturday announced higher tariff rates on Canada, specifically because of an anti-tariff ad using Ronald Reagan's own words, and spurred outrage from observers.
The president has for days raged about the ad, which plays the words of Reagan talking about the dangers of imposing too many barriers to trade on other countries. Then, Trump imposed real consequences over the weekend.
"Canada was caught, red handed, putting up a fraudulent advertisement on Ronald Reagan’s Speech on Tariffs," Trump claimed. "The Reagan Foundation said that they, 'created an ad campaign using selective audio and video of President Ronald Reagan. The ad misrepresents the Presidential Radio Address,' and 'did not seek nor receive permission to use and edit the remarks. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute is reviewing its legal options in this matter.' The sole purpose of this FRAUD was Canada’s hope that the United States Supreme Court will come to their 'rescue' on Tariffs that they have used for years to hurt the United States."
He then announced the 10% boost to tariffs for Canada.
That didn't sit well with onlookers, including White House correspondent Andrew Feinberg, who said, "Let’s be clear about what this is. Canada isn’t paying a godd---- thing."
"He’s increasing taxes on Americans by executive fiat because he didn’t like an advertisement that quoted Reagan’s (accurate) views on tariffs," he then added. "You (and I) are paying these taxes — not Canada."
MeidasTouch chimed in with, "Trump says he’s increasing tariffs on imports of Canadian goods by 10% because Ontario’s commercial that accurately used Ronald Reagan’s words about tariffs made him sad."
Economist Justin Wolfers said, "It just got 10% dumber."
"Not a joke: Trump just imposed an additional 10 percent tariff on Canada because he still doesn't understand that Reagan was a vehement free trader," he then added.
Tax analyst Erica York said, "The President should not have the power to arbitrarily impose tariffs."
"Is the new 10% tariff on imports from Canada related to the fentanyl emergency or the reciprocal trade emergency or are hurt feelings also now a national emergency?" she further added.
Donald Trump on Saturday announced a new, higher tariff rate on Canada after the airing of an advertisement that used Ronald Reagan's words against the current president.
The president has for days raged about the ad, which plays the words of Reagan talking about the dangers of imposing too many tariffs on other countries.
Now, he is imposing real consequences.
"Canada was caught, red handed, putting up a fraudulent advertisement on Ronald Reagan’s Speech on Tariffs," Trump claimed. "The Reagan Foundation said that they, 'created an ad campaign using selective audio and video of President Ronald Reagan. The ad misrepresents the Presidential Radio Address,' and 'did not seek nor receive permission to use and edit the remarks. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute is reviewing its legal options in this matter.' The sole purpose of this FRAUD was Canada’s hope that the United States Supreme Court will come to their 'rescue' on Tariffs that they have used for years to hurt the United States."
Trump then added, "Now the United States is able to defend itself against high and overbearing Canadian Tariffs (and those from the rest of the World as well!)."
"Ronald Reagan LOVED Tariffs for purposes of National Security and the Economy, but Canada said he didn’t! Their Advertisement was to be taken down, IMMEDIATELY, but they let it run last night during the World Series, knowing that it was a FRAUD," he further claimed. "Because of their serious misrepresentation of the facts, and hostile act, I am increasing the Tariff on Canada by 10% over and above what they are paying now. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"
Donald Trump on Saturday made a major threat connected to the shaky peace deal between Israel and Hamas.
The president took to Truth Social over the weekend to air his grievances toward Hamas.
"We have a very strong PEACE in the Middle East, and I believe it has a good chance of being EVERLASTING," Trump claimed before adding, "Hamas is going to have to start returning the bodies of the deceased hostages, including two Americans, quickly, or the other Countries involved in this GREAT PEACE will take action."
He then continued:
"Some of the bodies are hard to reach, but others they can return now and, for some reason, they are not. Perhaps it has to do with their disarming, but when I said, 'Both sides would be treated fairly,' that only applies if they comply with their obligations."
Trump then concluded, "Let’s see what they do over the next 48 hours. I am watching this very closely."
As Donald Trump was meeting with leaders of Qatar aboard Air Force One, one of the president's key allies was trying to inject new information that would blow it up.
Trump has consistently been seen trying to bring Qatar closer, especially as the nation served as an intermediary in the discussions between Israel and Hamas. Trump referred to Qatar as a "great ally," but MAGA influencers have criticized the arrangement.
One of those concerned supporters is MAGA icon Laura Loomer, who is known to have the ear of the president and has even been called the Trump Whisperer.
On Saturday, she took to social media in an attempt to disrupt the Qatar meeting.
Responding to Trump saying "It’s such an honor to have you on the plane!" Loomer posted a New York Post article called, "Oh mama! Qatar bankrolled over a decade worth of films directed by Zohran Mamdani’s mom."
"The Emir of Qatar is destroying our country from within by funding the Islamic takeover of America," Loomer wrote. "Mamdani and his family are tied to Qatar."
Loomer further added, "Mamdani is incredibly anti-Trump and supports Islamic terrorism."
"Has anyone showed this to President Trump?" she then asked.
President Donald Trump deployed the USS Gerald R. Ford to the Caribbean as part of his ongoing war with what he calls "narco-terrorists" in the country. The bombing of unidentified boats in the waters off the coast of North and South America is entering "war crimes territory," one Pentagon reporter said on Friday.
Sending such a ship near Venezuela is an escalation, said the Times' Pentagon reporter Helene Cooper.
"An aircraft carrier is a ginormous projection of American power. We have been sending aircraft carriers to the Middle East, where we had been for 20 years at war. And to turn now and deploy an aircraft carrier, sending the Gerald Ford towards Venezuela is a huge statement of intent with an aircraft carrier, American sailors, American troops, American airmen, Navy fighter pilots are better able to strike targets in Venezuela," she said.
"That's sort of like parking a giant Howitzer on the doorstep of, you know, of Nicolas Maduro," Cooper described. "It's a really big deal. It's going to probably take seven days, seven to 10 days for them to get from Croatia to the Caribbean, the southern Caribbean," Cooper continued.
She noted it was a "massive statement of intent for the Trump administration" without going to Congress to ask for authorization to go to war. Only Congress can declare war. Trump, however, said he has no intention of asking for authorization.
“I’m not going to necessarily ask for a declaration of war,” Trump said on Thursday. “I think we’re just going to kill people that are bringing drugs into our country. Okay? We’re going to kill them, you know, they’re going to be like, dead.”
Cooper said she spoke with a general who told her that after the Supreme Court gave Trump immunity, he may not have to ask Congress for permission.
"And at somepoint, there is a lot of worrythat, you know, that weare verging close now to whatcould be war crimes territory," she continued. "So, there's a lot of worry andthere's almost —several officers I talked totoday — two of them broughtup, 'When is Congress going tostep in and sort of exerciseits own authority?'"
President Donald Trump's deputy chief of staff didn't discount the idea of sending American soldiers to fight on the ground in Venezuela.
Speaking to the press on Friday, Stephen Miller was asked, "Would the administration consider putting troops on the ground in any capacity in Venezuela?"
Instead, Miller said, "These are terrorists and they're gonna be killed."
"My kingdom for ANY journalist to follow up on a @stephenm comment abt terrorism w/Q about: 1) The adjudged terrorists who attacked the Capitol who Trump freed on his first day on the job, 2) The terrorists that Changpeng Zhao, whom Trump ALSO pardoned, helped launder money," remarked national security expert Marcy Wheeler.
"If @StephenM believes he can just kill terrorists will no due process, will he do that to Joe Biggs? Stewart Rhodes? Donald Trump did not PARDON either of them, leaving the terrorism judgment intact," she added.
CNN reporter Kit Maher wrote on X, "Miller doesn't say whether the administration would consider putting US troops on ground in Venezuela in any capacity, but reiterates position on 'fighting terrorists in the Western hemisphere:' 'These are terrorists and they're going to be killed.'"
"What Miller is advocating is state terrorism. He should be behind bars," retired diplomat Frank Cogan said on X.
Author Jennifer Erin Valent wrote, "You don’t have to be a pacifist or naive about the realities of evil in this world to believe that there is something wrong with people who flippantly speak about killing people. I will say again and again, this administration is sadistic."
The United States has deployed an aircraft carrier strike group to the Caribbean as tensions between the Trump administration and Venezuela continue to escalate, a spokesperson for the Defense Department said Friday.
“The enhanced U.S. force presence in the [U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility] will bolster U.S. capacity to detect, monitor, and disrupt illicit actors and activities that compromise the safety and prosperity of the United States homeland and our security in the Western Hemisphere,” wrote Sean Parnell, DOD spokesperson, in a statement shared on social media Friday.
“These forces will enhance and augment existing capabilities to disrupt narcotics trafficking and degrade and dismantle [transnational criminal organizations].”
Tensions between the United States and Venezuela under the leadership of Nicolas Maduro have ramped up in recent weeks after President Donald Trump began ordering strikes on suspected drug-carrying vessels headed toward the United States. Maduro was indicted on narco-terrorism charges by the Justice Department in 2020, and the Trump administration continues to consider outright assassinating him, according to an anonymous senior Trump official.
“The dispatch of a carrier is the strongest sign yet that the Trump administration envisions expanding the airstrikes that so far have been limited to striking small vessels to other targets on land in what officials have said is an effort to destroy drug-smuggling operations and destabilize Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro’s government,” wrote journalist Shelby Holliday in a report Friday in The Wall Street Journal.
“The Pentagon was already carrying out a large buildup of combat power in the region. A carrier in the region would enable commanders to carry out airstrikes at a higher tempo and shorten the distance U.S. planes would have to fly to reach targets on land.”
The latest strike on suspected drug-carrying vessels came late Thursday night after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Friday morning that another six suspected “narco-terrorists” were killed. Critics have labeled the targeted strikes as violations of international law.
President Donald Trump fired off on Canada early Friday morning after a Canadian province paid for a video advertisement in an apparent attempt to bash Trump’s tariff policy.
Launched last week, the ad was paid for by the government of Ontario, and features lines from a speech of former President Ronald Reagan’s in which he speaks to the economic harm caused by tariffs. The ad buy comes amid Trump’s trade talks with Canada, which Thursday night he cut off, citing the ad as the reason for the breakdown in negotiations.
“CANADA CHEATED AND GOT CAUGHT!!! They fraudulently took a big buy ad saying that Ronald Reagan did not like Tariffs, when actually he LOVED TARIFFS FOR OUR COUNTRY, AND ITS NATIONAL SECURITY,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.
“Canada is trying to illegally influence the United States Supreme Court in one of the most important rulings in the history of our Country. Canada has long cheated on Tariffs, charging our farmers as much as 400%. Now they, and other countries, can’t take advantage of the U.S. any longer. Thank you to the Ronald Reagan Foundation for exposing this FRAUD.”
While Trump claims that the ad misrepresented Reagan’s views on tariffs, the lines heard in the ad were, in fact, said by Reagan during a 1987 radio speech, albeit not in the same order as heard in the ad. Reagan was also a well-known proponent of international free trade, having famously eliminated a number of the United States’ protectionist trade policies.
Trump’s rant also comes amid a Supreme Court case in which justices will decide whether Trump has the authority to issue broad tariffs, a case that could decide the fate of Trump’s trade policy, a key fixture of his agenda during his second term.
