A cartoon published by a Venezuelan newspaper ridiculed President Donald Trump and his administration’s approach to foreign policy as tensions simmer between the two countries.
Why It Matters
The Trump administration has carried out strikes on alleged drug smuggling vessels in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean in recent months, drawing scrutiny both abroad and domestically. Trump has argued he has the right to carry out the strikes to prevent the flow of drugs into the United States. Trump has also said the airspace around Venezuela should be considered “shuttered.” The simmering tensions have fueled questions about whether a broader conflict with Venezuela could be on the horizon.
The cartoon reflects the sentiment among Venezuelan media aligned with the government. The BBC wrote in 2019 that the newspaper is owned by the government and reports “thought artillery” to the government’s positions.
What to Know
Criticism toward the administration has mounted in recent days as it faced questions about the legality of a second strike on a boat suspected of transporting drugs in the Caribbean. The second strike was allegedly ordered to leave “no survivors” after an initial strike in September, The Washington Post reported. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has maintained that the strikes are lawful.
The Venezuela newspaper Correo del Orinoco, which has been supportive of the Venezuelan government led by President Nicolás Maduro, published a cartoon late last week mocking President Trump. The cartoon showed an drawing of a Trump holding a warship next to a globe with a lengthy caption condemning the administration, translated by Newsweek.
It compared to the administration to a dog—writing that Artificial Intelligence (AI) says dogs bark to “communicate, to express joy, fear, alertness, or frustration.”
“None of these explanations match the threats and pressures coming from Donald Trump and the United States toward Venezuela. It is not joy, it is not fear, it is not a sign of alertness or frustration, nor is it territorial defense,” the caption reads. “We are a free and sovereign nation that decides its destiny as it chooses; in diplomacy, this is called the self-determination of peoples.”
The newspaper took a broader critique of U.S. foreign policy, writing that the administration turned to “greater pressure” after economic measures implemented by Trump, as well as former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, “were not enough.”
“And so came the imposition of hatred toward Venezuelan nationality, the fury of gunboat diplomacy, and the threats unleashed with their dogs of war,” the cartoon reads.
The administration, however, has argued its actions against Venezuela are necessary to target cartels that are responsible for the influx of drugs into the United States. The U.S. and Venezuela are not at war, as any declaration would go through Congress. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Trump said operations would “soon” begin on land, CNN reported.
“I think you’re going to find that there’s a very receptive ear to doing exactly what they’re doing, taking out those boats. And very soon we’re going to start doing it on land too,” he told reporters in the Oval Office. “We know every route. We know every house. W know where they manufacture this crap. We know where they put it all together.”
What People Are Saying
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said during a meeting on Tuesday, defending strikes in the Caribbean: “The vessel exploded in fire, smoke, you can’t see anything. … This is called the fog of war.”
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro said last week in Caracas: “We must be ready to defend every inch of this blessed land from imperialist threat or aggression, no matter where it comes from.”
What Happens Next
Tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela remain high. Trump has hinted that more land action could come soon, but officials have not laid out a timeline.
