President Trump said US forces struck a "big facility" in Venezuela linked to ship operations and drug loading but gave no location or independent evidence. Video from Zulia purportedly shows an explosion, but neither the clip nor the site has been verified. An administration official told CNN the president was referring to a drug facility. About 15,000 US personnel and a carrier strike group are deployed in a maritime "quarantine" aimed at disrupting oil exports and drug trafficking.
Trump Claims US Struck a 'Big Facility' in Venezuela — White House Offers No Details
Donald Trump speaks during a press conference following talks at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, on 28 December.Photograph: Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images
President Donald Trump said US forces struck a "big plant" or "big facility" in Venezuela last week, but he did not identify the site's location, purpose or provide independent evidence. The White House has not offered further comment, and Venezuelan authorities have not publicly confirmed the incident.
What Trump Said
Speaking to Republican donor and New York supermarket owner John Catsimatidis, Trump said he had "knocked out" a facility "where the ships come from" and that "we hit them very hard." In remarks to reporters after meeting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the president added that "there was a major explosion in the dock area where they load the boats up with drugs. We hit the area."
“So we hit all the boats and now we hit the implementation area… where they implement and that’s no longer around.”
Verification and Reporting
Video footage posted online on 24 December reportedly shows an explosion in the industrial zone of the San Francisco municipality in Zulia state, but neither the clip nor the facility has been independently verified. An administration official told CNN that Trump was referring to a drug facility in his comments to Catsimatidis, but there has been no on-the-record confirmation from the White House elaborating on the claim.
Context: US Military Posture and Covert Authorizations
In October, Trump confirmed he had authorized the Central Intelligence Agency to conduct covert operations in Venezuela. The US has also deployed a substantial military presence in the region — described by the administration as a maritime "quarantine" — that officials say includes roughly 15,000 personnel, a carrier strike group, F-35 aircraft and Coast Guard cutters. The buildup was initially framed as an effort to interdict drug traffickers operating under the direction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro; administration officials also say it aims to disrupt Venezuela's oil exports.
Legal and Political Implications
If the president's account reflects an actual US strike or covert action on Venezuelan soil, it would represent the first confirmed land strike in Venezuela since the Pentagon's regional buildup. A land strike inside another country raises complex legal and political issues, including whether congressional authorization would be required for expanded military action.
Bottom Line
Trump's claims remain unverified and lacking detail. Independent confirmation from US officials, Venezuelan authorities or reliable on-the-ground sources is needed to substantiate the president's account and clarify the nature, location and legal basis for any US action.
