![Trump Puts a Few Latin Leaders On Notice After Arrest of Venezuela's Maduro [WATCH]](https://www.right2024.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/1767653934_Trump-Puts-a-Few-Latin-Leaders-On-Notice-After-Arrest.jpg)
President Donald Trump issued pointed warnings to several Latin American governments following a U.S. operation that resulted in the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who is now in U.S. custody on American soil.
The comments came after an overnight operation into early Saturday that led to Maduro’s capture.
In remarks addressing the regional implications of the action, Trump characterized parts of Latin America as major sources of narcotics flowing into the United States and warned neighboring governments that further action could follow.
Trump directed his remarks toward Mexico, Colombia, and Cuba, linking those countries to drug trafficking concerns and regional instability.
Cuba, which has had decades of strained relations with Washington dating back to the Cold War, was included in the warnings alongside Mexico and Colombia.
During the comments, Trump again described Maduro as a “narco-terrorist” and addressed a question about how the operation could affect neighboring countries.
He directly linked Maduro to Colombian President Gustavo Petro while discussing cocaine production and trafficking.
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“He has cocaine mills, he has factories where he makes cocaine, and they’re sending it into the United States,” Trump said of the Colombian leader, adding, “he does have to watch his ass.”
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President Trump delivers a message Colombian President Gustavo Petro:
“He has cocaine mills… I think I stick by my first statement. He’s making cocaine and sending it into the United States.
He does have to watch his ass.” pic.twitter.com/XazED4zeo1
— Conservative Brief (@ConservBrief) January 3, 2026
Trump’s remarks about Cuba were less direct but suggested future discussion and potential action.
He said his administration intended to focus on the Cuban population as well as Cuban-Americans living in the United States.
“It’s going to be something we’ll end up talking about,” Trump said, referring to Cuba.
He added that Washington wants to “help the people” of the country, which he described as similar to Venezuela.
“It’s very similar in the sense that we want to help the people in Cuba, but we also want to help the people who were forced out of Cuba and are living in this country,” Trump said, referencing Cuban-Americans who have fled the island nation and settled in the United States.
BREAKING: TRUMP INDICATES CUBA MAY BE NEXT:
“I think Cuba is gonna be something we’ll end up talking about, because Cuba is a failing nation. It’s very similar” pic.twitter.com/LxoFgdtHna
— Sulaiman Ahmed (@ShaykhSulaiman) January 3, 2026
Trump also focused on Mexico during his remarks, turning attention to drug cartels operating south of the U.S. border.
He addressed Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo while discussing cartel influence and what he described as the Mexican government’s inability to confront those organizations.
Trump said that drug cartels are effectively running the country and claimed that Mexican authorities are fearful of them.
He said action would be required to address the situation.
“They’re running Mexico… I’ve asked her numerous times: ‘Would you like us to take out the cartels?’ ‘No, no, no, Mr. President, no, no, no, please.’ So we have to do something,” Trump said in a phone interview with Fox.
Trump on Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum: “The cartels are running Mexico. She’s not running Mexico. We could be politically correct and be nice and say, ‘Oh, yes, she is.’ No no. She’s very frightened of the cartels. They’re running Mexico. And I’ve asked her number times,… pic.twitter.com/7OlEtQgMyf
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 3, 2026
Mexico moved quickly to condemn the U.S. military action in Venezuela following Maduro’s arrest.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro also criticized the operation, describing it as an “assault on the sovereignty” of Latin America.
Similar criticism was echoed by several BRICS nations and other countries in the Global South, which issued statements opposing the U.S. action.
Trump’s remarks came amid heightened regional tensions following the Venezuela operation.
The administration has emphasized that the action targeted narcotics trafficking and individuals it has accused of participating in criminal enterprises, while critics have argued it represents a broader assertion of U.S. power in the region.
As Trump addressed the fallout from the operation, his comments made clear that the administration views drug trafficking and cartel influence as interconnected regional issues extending beyond Venezuela.
His statements indicated that the capture of Maduro could mark the beginning of increased pressure on other governments that Washington believes are linked to narcotics production or trafficking networks.
The warnings to Mexico, Colombia, and Cuba followed the administration’s declaration that Maduro is now in U.S. custody and that American forces played a role in securing the operation.
While Trump did not announce specific new actions against the other countries, his comments placed their governments on notice as the administration continues to frame regional drug trafficking as a national security issue for the United States.
