Apple News Today Trump didn’t take military action against Venezuela in his first term. Here’s what changed.
19 snips
Jan 10, 2026 
Jonathan Blitzer, a staff writer at The New Yorker who specializes in immigration and foreign policy, discusses the recent U.S. military operation in Venezuela. He delves into how ideological drivers and regional aims turned Venezuela into a target for the Trump administration. Blitzer also explores Trump’s initial reluctance for military intervention, the weak rationale behind the 'War on Drugs' approach, and the economic motives tied to Venezuelan oil. The conversation highlights the implications for U.S. policy and migration as things unfold.
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Venezuela As A Regional Lever
- Venezuela became a focal point because multiple Trump aides long sought regime change and saw it as linked to Cuba and regional socialist allies.
- Jonathan Blitzer explains that ousting Venezuela was viewed as a way to weaken Cuba and Nicaragua by cutting their support networks.
Trump's Rhetoric Versus Reluctance
- Trump publicly pushed regime-change rhetoric but resisted deploying troops during his first term due to the complexity of intervention.
- Blitzer notes Trump's ambivalence shifted as advisors and political aims pushed for harder action in his second term.
Drug Claims Don't Match Evidence
- The administration's drug-war justification for strikes lacks clear evidence linking those attacks to fentanyl flows harming the U.S.
- Blitzer highlights that Coast Guard interceptions and fentanyl seizures in the Caribbean do not support the official narrative.