Trump Calls Emergency Oval Office Meeting as U.S. Pressures Venezuela, and Faces War-Crime Accusations

Trump is gathering his national security inner circle for a Monday evening Venezuela meeting as warships mass and legal scrutiny continues rising rapidly.

Here’s what went down 👇

Read this if you're tracking U.S.–Venezuela tensions, military escalation, or the emerging shadow conflict in the Caribbean.

📍 What Just Happened

U.S. forces have increased strikes on vessels suspected of drug activity linked to Venezuela, prompting congressional attention to recent operational decisions.

A CNN report claims a follow-up strike occurred after survivors remained from an initial attack, leading lawmakers to request further clarification.

Congress is preparing to question officials at multiple levels of the chain of command to determine factual details surrounding the reported incident.

🚢 Operation Southern Spear

The Pentagon has deployed:

• 15,000 troops

• More than a dozen warships

• Airspace restrictions around Venezuela

Trump says land routes for drug trafficking will be shut down “very soon.”

☎️ Trump–Maduro Phone Call

Trump confirmed he recently spoke to Nicolás Maduro but refused to share details.

The administration has now designated Maduro’s circle as a foreign terrorist organization, giving the U.S. expanded options for strikes inside Venezuela.

🧠 Why It Matters

The U.S. is not formally at war with Venezuela.

If allegations of unlawful strikes are proven, it would intensify political, legal, and international challenges,  at the exact moment Washington ramps up its most aggressive regional operation in years.

🧾 The Bottom Line

The Oval Office meeting reflects a new phase of U.S. operational activity in the region, indicating continued attention on Venezuela. At the same time, Congress is initiating more extensive oversight, signaling growing interest in understanding decision-making, legal authorities, and the broader implications of recent actions for U.S. policy and accountability.