White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt has hinted that President Donald Trump may be considering sending National Guard troops into Venezuela, though she stopped short of confirming any official plan.
During a tense White House press briefing, Leavitt was asked whether the president had approved the deployment of troops to South America. Her cryptic response “I won’t get into specific proposals being considered by the president and his national security team” left many wondering if military intervention could soon be on the table.
This comes after weeks of escalating U.S. military actions targeting Venezuelan water vessels that the Trump administration accused of carrying fentanyl. The White House has reportedly authorized three separate airstrikes on boats in international waters, resulting in at least nine fatalities.
Amid these developments, U.S. forces have been gathering, fueling speculation that Trump could be preparing for direct intervention in the region.
Domestic Tensions Over National Guard Use
Leavitt’s ambiguous comments follow another controversial move by the president. Earlier this week, Trump attempted to bypass a court order blocking his deployment of National Guard troops to Oregon. He argued the deployment was needed to quell what he described as “violent riots”, while organizers insisted they were peaceful protests.
The move drew swift backlash from California Governor Gavin Newsom and Oregon Governor Tina Kotek, both Democrats who have clashed repeatedly with Trump since the start of his second term.
Despite this opposition, Texas Governor Greg Abbott backed Trump’s decision, signaling deepening divisions between Republican and Democratic states over federal control of the Guard.
Growing Power Struggle and Economic Strain
The potential Venezuela deployment also coincides with a fifth day of a government shutdown, with neither party showing signs of compromise. After failed talks with Democrats, Trump threatened mass layoffs targeting federal employees especially in agencies seen as supportive of Democrats unless Congress agrees to his temporary funding proposal.
Democrats, meanwhile, have demanded that the administration reverse major Medicaid cuts and restore over $1 trillion in Affordable Care Act subsidies before any deal is reached.
Adding to the tension, Trump recently posted an AI-generated video portraying his budget director Russell Vought as the “grim reaper,” symbolizing sweeping job losses if the standoff continues.
As the White House faces domestic unrest, an ongoing shutdown, and rising geopolitical tensions, Trump’s next move especially regarding Venezuela could have far-reaching global and political consequences.
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