WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump has officially acknowledged a direct telephone conversation with Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, marking a significant development in bilateral relations between the two nations. The confirmation came during a press briefing aboard Air Force One on Sunday, though the American leader remained notably guarded about substantive details of the exchange.
When pressed by journalists for commentary on the nature of the discussion, Trump responded, “I don’t want to comment on it; the answer is yes.” He characterized the call in neutral terms, stating, “I wouldn’t say it went well or badly. It was a phone call,” effectively sidestepping deeper elaboration on diplomatic particulars.
The revelation follows Trump’s social media activity from Saturday, wherein he issued a stark warning regarding Venezuelan airspace. In his post, the President declared that the airspace above and surrounding Venezuela “should be considered to be closed in its entirety.” This statement prompted immediate speculation about potential military escalation.
However, Trump moved to downplay interpretations of imminent offensive action. “Don’t read anything into it,” he advised, clarifying that the alert was issued “because we consider Venezuela to be not a very friendly country.” This framing suggests the move was more a symbolic gesture of diplomatic pressure rather than a precursor to airstrikes. The exchange and subsequent statements represent a complex interplay of diplomacy and public posturing amid ongoing tensions between the United States and the Venezuelan government.