Trump Convenes Oval Office Strategy Meeting on Venezuela Escalation

President Donald J. Trump is set to host a high-level Oval Office meeting on Monday evening to address the rapidly escalating pressure campaign against the Venezuelan regime of Nicolás Maduro. This strategy session, described by sources as a “decisional meeting,” follows a week of dramatic escalations, including a rejected amnesty plea from Maduro, the official designation of the Maduro-led organization as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), and the President’s directive to consider Venezuelan airspace “closed in its entirety.”
Top National Security Team to Attend
The White House meeting is expected to include the administration’s most senior national security and defense officials, signaling the gravity of the policy decisions being considered. Key attendees are scheduled to include:
* Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
* Secretary of State Marco Rubio
* Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine
* White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles
The discussion will focus on reviewing the administration’s current posture, particularly the ongoing deployment of major US military assets—including warships and thousands of troops—to the Caribbean under “Operation Southern Spear.” The primary objective of the meeting is to decide on the immediate next steps in the campaign, which aims to dismantle alleged drug-trafficking networks and force a regime change in Caracas.
Escalation and the Threat of Land Operations
The urgency of the Monday evening meeting is fueled by the recent breakdown of backchannel communications. Reports confirmed that President Trump had spoken directly with Maduro, delivering an ultimatum for him to step down immediately or face “other options,” which Maduro refused, instead requesting global amnesty.
Furthermore, President Trump publicly hinted over the weekend that the counter-narcotics military campaign, which has so far been focused on maritime strikes, could soon expand to include land-based operations. “The land is easier. That’s going to start very soon,” the President remarked. This threat, combined with the new FTO designation that provides broadened legal authority for kinetic strikes, places the conflict at a critical juncture. The outcome of the Oval Office session will determine whether the administration proceeds with further military action or seeks a new diplomatic path. .
Intense Scrutiny from Congress
Adding complexity to the policy deliberation are mounting accusations from members of Congress regarding the lethality of the recent US maritime strikes, which have reportedly killed over 80 people. Lawmakers have expressed alarm over reports that one strike involved a verbal order to “leave no survivors,” prompting accusations of possible war crimes and calls for an immediate investigation. The high-level White House meeting will therefore also need to address the legal and ethical implications of the ongoing operations as the US prepares to potentially deepen its involvement in the Venezuelan crisis.