WSJ Opinion: Potomac Watch Trump Says the U.S. Hit a Venezuelan Dock, as Pressure Rises on Maduro
Dec 30, 2025
Mary Anastasia O'Grady, a columnist for The Wall Street Journal with deep expertise in Latin American politics, joins to discuss Trump's recent claims of a strike against a Venezuelan dock. She dives into the dramatic decline of Venezuela's oil revenues and the increasing pressure on Maduro's regime. O'Grady highlights Maduro's reliance on Cuban support and how the U.S. may escalate actions against him. The conversation explores the complexity of rebuilding Venezuela post-Maduro and the inadequacy of solutions like a Marshall Plan.
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Showing Reach To Force Maduro Out
- Donald Trump appears to be signaling to Nicolás Maduro that the U.S. can operate inside Venezuela without large-scale airstrikes.
- Mary Anastasia O'Grady says the CIA strike on a drug-loading dock aims to show reach and escalate pressure toward regime exit.
Oil Collapse Deepens Economic Strain
- Venezuela's economy is heavily oil-dependent and production has collapsed from ~3.4M bpd to under 1M bpd.
- O'Grady warns the regime suffers but the population will suffer most from the squeeze.
Bravado As A Test Of U.S. Will
- Maduro's public joviality likely reflects coaching from Cuban and Russian allies to test U.S. resolve.
- O'Grady says his bravado exploits U.S. debate over authority to act and aims to outlast pressure.