President Trump receives military briefings for potential Venezuela operations as his administration escalates its war on drug trafficking with deadly precision strikes that have eliminated over 80 smugglers in recent months.
Story Highlights
- Senior military officials briefed Trump on Venezuela strike options, including land-based operations.
- USS Gerald Ford carrier strike group positioned in Southern Command for potential action.
- Trump administration has killed 80+ drug smugglers in 21 vessel strikes over two months.
- Secretary of War Hegseth warns traffickers: “We will find you and we will kill you.”
Military Leadership Presents Venezuela Strike Options
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Dan Caine, and senior military officials presented President Trump with updated military options for Venezuela operations on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
The briefing included potential land-based strikes according to multiple White House sources.
While no final decision has been made, the U.S. intelligence community provided crucial information supporting potential operations, demonstrating Trump’s commitment to decisive action against threats to American security.
New at @CBSNews – Top officials present President Trump with military options for Venezuela in the coming days via @JenniferJJacobs and I report. https://t.co/ftvBzREdyB
— Jim LaPorta (@JimLaPorta) November 13, 2025
Naval Assets Deploy for Regional Operations
The USS Gerald Ford carrier strike group entered U.S. Southern Command’s operational area this week, joining an impressive flotilla of destroyers, warplanes, and special operations assets already positioned in the region.
This massive military presence represents Trump’s America-first approach to protecting our borders and citizens from foreign threats. The strategic deployment showcases the president’s willingness to project American strength where previous administrations showed weakness and indecision.
Aggressive Anti-Trafficking Campaign Delivers Results
Trump’s administration has conducted devastating strikes against 21 drug-trafficking vessels over the past two months, resulting in at least 80 confirmed smuggler deaths.
These operations targeted boats ferrying narcotics from South America to poison American communities, a direct assault on families and children that demanded swift retribution.
Only two smugglers survived the strikes and were repatriated, with one released after authorities found no evidence of criminal activity, demonstrating precision in targeting confirmed threats.
At a defense summit in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Hegseth delivered a stark warning to drug traffickers and foreign terrorist organizations. His message was clear and uncompromising: “My advice to foreign terrorist organizations is do not get in a boat.
If you’re trafficking drugs to poison the American people and we know you’re from a designated terrorist organization, you’re a foreign terrorist or trafficker — we will find you and we will kill you.” This represents the kind of strong leadership Americans elected Trump to provide.
Strategic Leadership Coordination Despite Scheduling Conflicts
Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard was absent from the White House discussions due to an overseas trip, while Secretary of State Marco Rubio attended a G7 summit in Canada.
Despite these scheduling conflicts, the administration maintained operational security and strategic planning capabilities.
White House and Pentagon spokespeople appropriately declined immediate comment, reflecting the sensitive nature of ongoing military preparations and the administration’s commitment to operational security over political theater.
