Gallego Makes Bold Claim About Trump’s Intentions Toward Venezuela

Democrat Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego said Tuesday that President Donald Trump’s posture toward Venezuela risks dragging the United States into another unnecessary war.

Trump ordered a total blockade of sanctioned oil tankers moving in and out of Venezuela on Tuesday, accusing the Maduro regime of funding crime and terrorism with stolen U.S. assets. Gallego said during an appearance on “The Weeknight” that the move risks pulling the United States into another war.

“This is the Iraq War 2.0 with a South American flavor to it. They’re trying to do it right now. I’m hoping this doesn’t happen, but I’m telling you right now, if you look at what they have down there,” Gallego said. “All the assets they have down there, all the actions they’re doing and they’re taking, this is absolutely an effort to get us involved in a war in Venezuela.”

Gallego framed his concern through personal experience, saying he fought in a conflict he believes never should have happened and was built on false premises.

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“I’m a baby of an illegal war. I went to war in Iraq, a war that should never happen, that was illegal, that was fabricated, fabricated by people that wanted the war to happen. This is happening again,” Gallego added.

Trump has kept his objectives in Venezuela largely undefined while his administration rapidly builds up military forces across the Caribbean. He intensified pressure on the Maduro regime on Monday after he designated fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction, as U.S. forces continue striking suspected drug-smuggling vessels, killing at least 95 alleged traffickers since the operations began in September.

The U.S. military has steadily expanded its presence and operations in the southern Caribbean for months, prompting speculation that the administration is laying the groundwork for a direct confrontation with the Maduro regime or potential regime change. Trump further stoked that uncertainty by telling reporters that “other things are happening” beyond the tanker seizure and by saying in a Politico interview that Maduro’s “days are numbered.”

Reports say the White House and some lawmakers justify the Venezuela strategy as aiming to disrupt drug trafficking networks and enhance U.S. national security by confronting criminal organizations the administration labels as “narco-terrorists,” positioning military action as a defense of American interests. Venezuelan opposition figures have publicly praised U.S. pressure on the Maduro regime, viewing it as overdue support for democratic forces and a necessary step to weaken an authoritarian government accused of corruption and criminal activity.

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