
Audio By Carbonatix
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed on Sunday that he had spoken with Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, but did not provide details on what the two leaders discussed.
"I don't want to comment on it. The answer is yes," Trump said when asked if he had spoken with Maduro. He was speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One.
The New York Times first reported Trump had spoken with Maduro earlier this month and discussed a possible meeting between them in the United States.
"I wouldn't say it went well or badly; it was a phone call," Trump said regarding the conversation.
The revelation of the phone call comes as Trump continues to use bellicose rhetoric regarding Venezuela, while also entertaining the possibility of diplomacy.
On Saturday, Trump said the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela should be considered "closed in its entirety," but gave no further details, stirring anxiety and confusion in Caracas as his administration ramps up pressure on Maduro's government.
When asked whether his airspace comments meant strikes against Venezuela were imminent, Trump said: "Don't read anything into it."
The Trump administration has been weighing Venezuela-related options to combat what it has portrayed as Maduro's role in supplying illegal drugs that have killed Americans. The socialist Venezuelan president has denied having any links to the illegal drug trade.
Reuters has reported the options under U.S. consideration include an attempt to overthrow Maduro, and that the U.S. military is poised for a new phase of operations after a massive military buildup in the Caribbean and nearly three months of strikes on suspected drug boats off Venezuela's coast.
Human rights groups have condemned the strikes as illegal extrajudicial killings of civilians, and some U.S. allies have expressed growing concerns that Washington may be violating international law.
Trump said he would look into whether the U.S. military had carried out a second strike in the Caribbean that killed survivors during a September operation, adding he would not have wanted such a strike.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has said the strikes are lawful but are intended to be "lethal."
Trump told military service members last week the U.S. would "very soon" begin land operations to stop suspected Venezuelan drug traffickers.
Maduro and senior members of his administration have not commented on the call. Asked about it on Sunday, Jorge Rodriguez, the head of Venezuela's National Assembly, said the call was not the topic of his press conference, where he announced a lawmaker investigation into U.S. boat strikes in the Caribbean.
Latest Stories
-
Stonebwoy, Fameye, DopeNation and Akwaboah to headline Ghana for Gold concert in Scotland on August 1
2 minutes -
NPP Ashanti Region clears 34 aspirants ahead of August 16 regional executive elections
24 minutes -
GMet forecasts thunderstorms in northern Ghana as mist and fog affect southern areas
27 minutes -
Three remanded over alleged lynching of man at Sabon Zongo in Kumasi
29 minutes -
NACOC warns global drug traffickers are using cyberspace to expand synthetic drug operations
40 minutes -
When everyone knows but no one speaks: The silence that sustains Academic Bullying
48 minutes -
Photos : Mahama signs new GIPA Act into law to boost Ghana’s investment drive
51 minutes -
Daily Insight for CEOs: Ecosystem leadership in a connected economy
1 hour -
Today’s front pages: Wednesday, July 22, 2026
1 hour -
World Gold Council commits US$250,000 grant to support Ghana’s responsible small-scale mining programme
1 hour -
Police arrest two at Asawase Market over suspected narcotic drugs concealed in fertiliser sacks
1 hour -
Accra to host Pan-African conference on economic restructuring, political reforms
1 hour -
When Chairman Wontumi’s 20-year sentence marks a turning point in the fight against political impunity
1 hour -
ADRA Ghana donates relief items, calls for sustainable recovery support for June 29 flood victims
2 hours -
GRA Customs explains how imported vehicles are classified and valued for duty assessment
2 hours