Donroe Doctrine: Trump’s Venezuela

NAYONIKAA SINGHAAL
GRAPHIC DESIGNER

GAGE MITCHELL
STAFF WRITER

1/26/2026

In the waning months of 2025, the U.S. placed heavy pressure on Venezuela, including embargoes on trade and a total naval blockade. At 1:01 AM on Jan. 3rd, U.S. threats toward Venezuela culminated in nationwide airstrikes and the capture of Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Florez. 

The capture was orchestrated by the Delta Force; a highly secretive U.S. Special Forces anti-terrorist unit. Delta Force has previously captured high-ranking targets in Africa and Asia. 

U.S. President Trump addressed the nation from Mar-a-Lago on Jan. 3rd stating that Maduro was taken by helicopter to the USS Iwo Jima. Trump, Miller, and Rubio have since shared several aims of the US takeover of Venezuela. 

Steven Miller, White House deputy chief of staff for policy and Trump’s homeland security advisor, largely masterminded the Venezuela coup. Marco Rubio, the Secretary of State, also played a role. 

On the day of capture, Trump’s stated goal was to try Maduro for narco-terrorism crimes, which is the manufacture and export of drugs to influence politics. Maduro is also being accused of violating U.S. weapon laws. Miller and Rubio have since spearheaded broader goals. 

Miller’s intentions for Venezuela include installing a friendly regime, ending immigration to the U.S., and possible continued U.S. rule. Miller and Trump have threatened a ground invasion if the new Venezuelan government led by Maduro’s former vice president Delcy Rodríguez is not cooperative. 

Rubio’s goals include opening the Venezuelan stock market and natural resources to American investors. In a deal with Rodríguez, 30 million barrels of oil have been placed under direct control of Trump. The money from selling this oil is being held in an offshore account in Qatar which only Trump can access. 

In a meeting with major oil companies such as Chevron and Exxon-Mobile on Jan. 9th Trump and Rubio were told that Venezuelan oil is crude unprofitable. These companies will not invest in Venezuelan resources. 

Rodríguez was personally chosen by the Trump administration to take over the Venezuelan government. She is willing to work with the Trump administration on certain issues, like the previously mentioned oil deal. Rodríguez is unwilling to meet most non-oil U.S. demands and argues that Maduro must be released. 

Analysts predicted María Corina Machado would be Trump’s pick for Venezuelan president. Machado won a Nobel Peace Prize for her work to democratize Venezuela. On Jan. 15th, Machado gave Trump her Nobel Prize hoping to persuade him to install her as Venezuelan president. 

When asked about the situation in Venezuela, a faculty member who requested to remain anonymous said: 

“It is reminiscent of… American involvement in Latin American politics during the Cold War. (We) had little respect for the wishes of the people who lived there, we took what we wanted, and we manipulated (people),” they said. “We have set a dangerous precedent moving forward, about what can and cannot be done by the U.S. or other powerful nations.” 

The situation in Venezuela is uncertain. Maduro is currently being held for trial in NYC and disagreement between Rodríguez and Trump makes it likely that the US will remain militarily involved in Venezuela in the future. Who will lead the country and whether Trump’s goals will see any success is unknown.