Trump to hold meeting with Rubio, Hegseth, and key aides regarding Venezuela, sources report

Washington President Trump is set to hold a meeting Monday afternoon with his senior advisors to discuss the next phase of U.S. actions in Venezuela, according to a senior military official and two sources familiar with the upcoming White House session. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are expected to attend what sources described as a key decision-making meeting concerning the ongoing pressure campaign against the Maduro administration.

The president has recently claimed to have communicated with Venezuelan President Nicols Maduro, while simultaneously increasing U.S. military presence in the region as part of what he describes as an anti-drug campaign targeting organizations his administration has labeled as terrorist groups. The State Department has officially designated Maduro himself as a terrorist.

CNN first reported the meeting, which comes amid heightened threats of military action and growing congressional scrutiny over Pentagon strikes on alleged drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Trump will meet with his national security team to discuss Venezuela and other national security issues.

The Washington Post reported that Hegseth allegedly gave a verbal order to ensure no survivors in the first U.S. strike on a suspected drug boat, which took place in the Caribbean. Trump announced the attack on September 2. According to the report, the initial strike left two survivors in the water, prompting a second strike to comply with Hegseth's directive, resulting in their deaths. A working group of former judge advocates general stated that, if accurate, this could constitute war crimes or murder, citing the Geneva Conventions that mandate humane treatment for combatants who are out of action due to injury or capture.

The U.S. military has conducted operations that killed at least 80 individuals in the Caribbean and Pacific under "Operation Southern Spear," aimed at narco-terrorists. The JAG group urged Congress to investigate any military actions involving intentional targeting of anyone rendered out of the fight due to injuries or the destruction of vessels or aircraft.

Trump commented on Sunday that he "wouldn't have wanted" a second strike on an alleged drug vessel earlier this year but stated he would investigate the matter. He said the first strike was "very lethal" and expressed confidence in Hegseth's handling of the situation. GOP Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota emphasized that any judgment about Hegseth or the strike would depend on facts discovered by the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Senator Roger Wicker, chairman of the committee, confirmed discussions with Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, and plans to speak with the admiral leading the operation. Wicker acknowledged that a second strike occurred but said details regarding potential survivors were still pending, with audio and video evidence expected to clarify the matter.

Recently, Trump warned that Venezuelan airspace should be regarded as closed. Venezuela responded that the U.S. had suspended migrant repatriation flights and accused Washington of attempting to infringe on its sovereignty. The U.S. asserts its operations aim to stop drug trafficking into the country, while Venezuela contends the administration is seeking to remove Maduro.

In the past weeks, U.S. military assets, including ships, have been positioned in the western Atlantic and Caribbean, and a naval base in Puerto Rico has been reopened. Democratic Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia commented that the reported follow-up strike could constitute a war crime if confirmed, violating both U.S. and international laws regarding the treatment of individuals incapacitated during combat. Kaine has previously proposed war powers resolutions to limit military strikes against Venezuela, though they have not passed in the Senate. He suggested that any future land operations in Venezuela might prompt a reassessment by Congress.

Author: Sophia Brooks