Trump’s comments came as the U.S. escalated a pressure campaign on Venezuela amid rising tensions tied to drug-smuggling routes aimed at the United States.
In remarks in Florida, Trump said there had been “a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs,” adding that the U.S. “hit all the boats and now we hit the area.” He characterized the site as “the implementation area,” saying, “And that is no longer around,” when asked about “an explosion in Venezuela.” The president did not provide the location of the dock facility or additional operational details.
Trump’s account matched what he had previously referenced in an earlier exchange on a WABC radio program with host John Catsimatidis. In that interview, Trump discussed U.S. strikes on alleged drug-carrying boats and said, “Two nights ago, we knocked that out. So, we hit them very hard,” but he did not add further specifics.
The latest remarks also left open who carried out the alleged coastal strike. Trump declined to say whether the U.S. military or the CIA conducted the dock attack, and he also did not confirm that it happened in Venezuela. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth or U.S. military social media accounts had typically announced boat strikes on the X platform, but there had been no post indicating an attack on a facility.
The U.S. military, however, reported a separate strike on Monday in the eastern Pacific against a boat accused of drug smuggling, according to the AP report. The strike killed two people, and the attacks—described by the Trump administration as efforts to target drug-smuggling boats—had killed at least 107 people in 30 strikes since early September, based on numbers announced by the administration.
The AP report said the Pentagon referred questions about the claimed dock facility strike to the White House, which did not immediately respond to a message seeking more details. Venezuela’s government press office also did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump’s statement.
Trump has previously suggested he might conduct land strikes in South America, including in Venezuela, and in recent weeks he said the U.S. would move beyond striking boats and target sites on land “soon.” The administration has also expanded military activity in the region, including sending warships, building up forces, seizing two oil tankers, and pursuing a third.
The Trump administration has said it is in “armed conflict” with drug cartels and trying to stop narcotics from reaching the United States. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has insisted that the stated purpose of the U.S. military operations is to force him from power.
In related commentary, White House chief of staff Susie Wiles said in an interview with Vanity Fair published this month that Trump “wants to keep on blowing boats up until Maduro ‘cries uncle.’” Separately, Trump confirmed in October that he had authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations in Venezuela, and the agency did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment Monday.