U.S. President Donald Trump disclosed new details on Monday about his recent phone conversation with Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, describing the exchange as “brief” and insisting it was not part of a broader pressure strategy.
Speaking during a press conference in the Oval Office, Trump said the call — held on November 21 — focused on “a couple of things” he wanted to communicate directly to Maduro.
“It’s not a pressure campaign; I think it goes far beyond that,” Trump said. “But I spoke briefly with him and said a couple of things. We’ll see what happens. Venezuela sends us drugs, but it also sends us people it shouldn’t. They emptied their prisons into our country.”
Reports of the call first emerged on November 28, when The New York Times revealed that Trump and Maduro had spoken. Trump later confirmed the contact, downplaying its significance and characterizing it as “just a phone call.”
According to Reuters, however, the conversation lasted less than 15 minutes and touched on far more sensitive matters. Three sources familiar with the call told the agency that Maduro signaled willingness to leave Venezuela — but only under conditions guaranteeing his and his family’s full legal immunity.
His demands reportedly included the lifting of all U.S. sanctions and the closure of the International Criminal Court’s investigation into alleged human rights violations and possible crimes against humanity. Maduro also requested that sanctions be lifted against more than 100 Venezuelan officials accused by Washington of corruption, drug trafficking, or human rights abuses.
Trump Defends U.S. Military Operation After Alleged War Crime Accusations
During the same press conference, Trump faced questions regarding a controversial U.S. military operation targeting suspected drug-trafficking boats in the Caribbean. In that mission, two survivors were allegedly killed after the initial assault — an act that could amount to a war crime under Pentagon rules and international law.
Trump said all available video recordings of the September 2 incident would be released, though he did not specify what material the administration currently possesses.
“Whatever it is, it will be published,” he said. “I don’t see a problem with that.”
The incident has sparked bipartisan criticism, particularly focused on Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who denies knowledge of the second attack despite reportedly being one of the operation’s leaders.