Trump Considering Direct Call with Maduro as U.S. Military Buildup Expands

U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing for a direct conversation with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, signaling a potential shift in Washington’s approach to the ongoing standoff in the Caribbean. According to an Axios report published Tuesday, the call is in the planning stages and would represent Trump’s most direct diplomatic outreach to Caracas since tensions sharply escalated three months ago.

The development comes as analysts note that the United States has now positioned enough naval, air, and logistical assets in the region to conduct a major military operation against Venezuela. B-52 bombers have been flying near Venezuelan airspace on an almost daily basis, a pattern widely interpreted as a psychological pressure campaign designed to unsettle Maduro’s government and signal U.S. capability. Despite this, the White House has not made any final decision about launching airstrikes or initiating offensive action.

Trump has recently hinted at openness to negotiations. During a 60 Minutes interview last week, he suggested he was willing to talk with Maduro, a position he repeated over the weekend. Any direct engagement would mark a dramatic shift from earlier reports that surfaced last month, indicating that Maduro had privately offered to open Venezuela’s oil, gas, and mineral sectors to U.S. companies in exchange for averting conflict. Trump later confirmed he rejected the offer and instructed envoy Ric Grenell to halt diplomatic discussions with Caracas.

The sudden reconsideration of diplomacy may be tied to domestic political concerns. Public support for military action against Venezuela remains strikingly low. A recent CBS poll found that only 30 percent of Americans favor a U.S. attack, including just 46 percent of Republicans. Only 13 percent of respondents viewed Venezuela as a threat to the United States, and a strong majority—63 percent—doubted that military intervention would meaningfully reduce drug trafficking.

With midterm elections approaching and Republican prospects weakening, the political risks of initiating another conflict may be shaping Trump’s approach as many observers believe the U.S. is using "counter-narcotics" efforts as cover to launch an Iraq-style regime change war, an association that appears to have contributed to public skepticism.