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Trump Offered Exile to Maduro: Rejection Led to U.S. Attack Order
According to The New York Times, the U.S. president proposed exile in Turkey to Venezuela’s leader to avoid military action. Maduro’s refusal ended talks
Trump offered exile to Maduro in an attempt to prevent a military escalation, but Venezuela’s president rejected the proposal, prompting the United States to move forward with the operation carried out between January 2 and 3. The details were revealed by The New York Times, citing U.S. and Venezuelan sources familiar with the failed negotiations.
According to the report, Donald Trump personally proposed that Nicolas Maduro accept exile in Turkey as a way out of the crisis. Maduro reportedly refused the offer angrily, effectively shutting down diplomatic channels.
“I told him he had to surrender, he had to step aside. I didn’t want to negotiate. I said, no, we have to act,” Trump said, summarizing the final exchanges with the Venezuelan leader.
U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine confirmed that the operation had been largely ready before Christmas. Washington prioritized airstrikes against ISIS targets in Nigeria on December 25, then waited for favorable weather conditions to proceed in Venezuela. After about a week, the green light was given.
The New York Times notes that Maduro appeared to underestimate Washington’s warnings, believing Trump was bluffing. That gamble, the paper writes, ultimately failed.
The exile offer emerged as U.S. officials were simultaneously deepening contacts with Vice President Delcy Rodríguez, seen as a possible transitional figure. According to sources cited by the newspaper, Rodríguez impressed Trump administration officials with her handling of Venezuela’s crucial oil sector and was viewed as capable of protecting future U.S. energy investments.
During a January 3 press conference at Mar-a-Lago, Trump stated that the United States would take control of the situation in Venezuela and work with “a group” to ensure a political transition. While he did not name specific individuals, Rodríguez is widely regarded as a key point of reference for Washington at this stage.
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