U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to address the nation on Wednesday at 9 p.m. EST from the White House, sparking speculation that the administration could announce a military escalation against Venezuela.
The White House has insisted the televised address will focus on the administration’s accomplishments over the past year, progress on the economy, and priorities for the months ahead. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt described the speech as centered on “bringing our country back to greatness.”
The address comes amid rising tensions with Caracas, following Trump’s order of a blockade against sanctioned Venezuelan oil tankers and a growing U.S. military presence in the region. The administration has simultaneously shifted away from its counter-narcotics justification for recent actions toward increasingly direct claims that Venezuela “stole” American oil assets.
On Wednesday, conservative commentator Tucker Carlson claimed a member of Congress told him lawmakers had been briefed about an impending war with Venezuela and that Trump’s address would announce the start of hostilities. David DeCamp of AntiWar.com also cited congressional sources confirming the briefing.
U.S. actions escalated further on Tuesday when Trump declared a “total and complete blockade” of all oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, a measure seen by many analysts as an act of war.
Trump suggested that Caracas seized “our oil” and referenced U.S. corporations being forced out of joint ventures. He appeared to be referring to former Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s 2007 reforms that required PDVSA, the state-owned oil company, to hold majority stakes in joint projects. Companies including ExxonMobil later had assets expropriated after refusing the terms, with the companies taking Venezuela to court in international arbitration.
Congressional efforts to restrict Trump from launching military action against Venezuela without approval failed on Wednesday. A resolution requiring congressional authorization for any U.S. attack was defeated 211–208, with only three Republicans voting in favor and eight lawmakers abstaining.