Tucker Carlson, a former television commentator, reported that a member of Congress told him lawmakers were briefed that President Trump would announce “a war is coming” during his national address Wednesday night.
In an interview with Andrew Napolitano, Carlson stated: “Here’s what I know so far, which is that members of Congress were briefed yesterday that a war is coming and it’ll be announced in the address to the nation tonight at nine o’clock by the president.”
Carlson emphasized his opposition to military action in Venezuela, noting: “There’s not been a regime change effort that’s benefitted the United States or the world in 80 years that I’m aware of.”
President Trump has repeatedly accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of leading a narco terrorist smuggling operation. Maduro’s election victory has long been contested by U.S. and global officials.
This week, Trump declared on social media: “The illegitimate Maduro Regime is using Oil from these stolen Oil Fields to finance themselves, Drug Terrorism, Human Trafficking, Murder, and Kidnapping… Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America… Therefore, today, I am ordering A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela.”
The U.S. has sanctioned three of Maduro’s nephews and conducted military strikes against boats from the Caribbean it alleges carry drugs.
Venezuela’s government released a statement accusing Trump of violating international law, free trade, and the principle of free navigation. It stated: “On his social media, he assumes that Venezuela’s oil, land, and mineral wealth are his property… The President of the United States intends to impose, in an utterly irrational manner, a supposed naval blockade on Venezuela with the aim of stealing the wealth that belongs to our nation.”
The Venezuelan government plans to denounce the situation before the United Nations.