In a dramatic escalation of Washington's pressure campaign, former US President Donald Trump reportedly delivered a blunt ultimatum to Venezuela's authoritarian leader, Nicolás Maduro, during a recent phone call: leave power and the country immediately.
The Reported Ultimatum
According to sources speaking to the Miami Herald, the conversation, believed to have taken place on 21 November, saw Trump issue a stark demand. He allegedly told Maduro he could "save yourself and those closest to you," but only if he agreed to resign on the spot and depart Venezuela. The offer reportedly included safe passage for Maduro, his wife, and his son.
This call forms a key part of a four-month pressure campaign against Maduro's regime, which has included a major US naval deployment off Venezuela's northern coast. Trump confirmed the call occurred, telling reporters on Sunday, "I wouldn't say it went well or badly, it was a phone call."
Maduro's Defiant Counter-Demands
Faced with Trump's demand for an immediate exit, President Maduro is said to have refused. Instead, he allegedly presented a series of counter-proposals. These included a request for worldwide immunity from prosecution for himself and his allies, and a condition that he be allowed to retain control of Venezuela's armed forces even while ceding political power.
The standoff marks the latest ratcheting up of tensions between the two nations. On Monday 1 December, Trump met with his top national security advisers to discuss Venezuela, though the specifics of that meeting remain unknown.
Broader Political Context
The high-stakes diplomatic confrontation unfolds against a backdrop of other significant political stories from the same day. The EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, expressed concern that upcoming talks between Russia's Vladimir Putin and a Trump envoy could pressure Ukraine into concessions.
Meanwhile, a scathing internal report claimed the FBI had become "internally paralyzed by fear" under its leadership. In a lighter moment, Trump stated he had "no idea" what part of his body was scanned during a recent MRI, though he promised to release the results.
The reported ultimatum to Maduro underscores the aggressive and unconventional approach taken by the Trump administration towards the Venezuelan crisis, directly challenging the leader's grip on power with a personal and uncompromising demand.
