Trump to Maduro: Your Days Are Numbered — Won’t Rule Out Ground Invasion

President Donald Trump declared Tuesday that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s "days are numbered" and pointedly refused to rule out a U.S. ground invasion to remove the socialist leader from power.

In a wide-ranging interview with Politico reporter Dasha Burns, Trump tied Maduro’s fate to the flow of drugs and the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua into the United States.

"His days are numbered," Trump said when asked if he wanted Maduro gone.

Pressed on whether he would rule out sending U.S. troops into Venezuela, the president responded, "I don’t want to rule in or out."

"I don’t talk about it," Trump continued. "I don’t want to talk to you about military strategy."

Trump told Burns that airstrikes on Venezuelan territory would begin "very soon."

The U.S. military has already conducted more than 20 strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels since September 2, killing more than 80 people.

The president also left open the possibility of similar strikes inside Mexico and Colombia, both larger sources of fentanyl entering the United States.

"I want the people of Venezuela to be treated well," Trump said. "I want the people of Venezuela, many of whom live in the United States, to be respected. I mean, they were tremendous to me. They voted for me 94% or something … I got to know the people well. They’re incredible people. And they were treated horribly by Maduro."

When Burns pressed further on potential invasion plans, Trump snapped at the outlet.

"Why would I talk to you — an extremely unfriendly publication, if you want to call it — Politico, that got $8 million from Obama to keep it afloat? Why would I do that? Why would I talk about that to Politico?" he said.

Politico appended an editor’s note clarifying that no government grants were received and that the figure referred to federal agency subscriptions later canceled under the Department of Government Efficiency.

As U.S. naval forces build up in the region, Maduro has mobilized troops and threatened guerrilla warfare in response to any incursion.

Bottom line: The president of the United States has put Venezuela’s dictator on notice, refused to take a ground invasion off the table, and signaled airstrikes are imminent.

The Maduro regime now waits for America’s next move.

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