By Virginia Allen, The Daily Signal | January 05, 2026
President Donald Trump did not rule out U.S. operations against other nations following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Saturday.
Talking to reporters on Air Force One Sunday, Trump suggested the U.S. is keeping a close eye on Colombia, Greenland, Cuba, Mexico, and Iran, and might even consider conducting military operations in some of the nations.
“Colombia is very sick too, run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States,” Trump said, referring to Colombian President Gustavo Petro. “And he’s not going to be doing it very long, let me tell you,” Trump added before a reporter pressed him to clarify his comments.
“It sounds good to me,” Trump said when asked if there might be a U.S. operation in Colombia.
Similar to Venezuela, the criminal cartels operate in Colombia and traffic drugs into the U.S., often through Mexico.
While Trump spoke with greater appreciation for President of Mexico Claudia Scheinbaum, telling reporters she is “a terrific person,” he also said she is “a little afraid” to allow U.S. troops into her country to address cartel activity.
“Mexico has to get their act together because they [the cartels] are pouring through Mexico, and we’re going to have to do something. We’d love Mexico to do it. They’re capable of doing it, but unfortunately, their cartels are very strong in Mexico,” Trump said.
“The cartels are running Mexico,” the president added.
Following the U.S. capture of Maduro, whom Trump has labeled a “dictator,” the president was asked if he would consider taking action against Miguel Díaz-Canel, the current Communist ruler of Cuba. Venezuela has a longstanding relationship with Cuba.
“Cuba looks like it’s ready to fall,” Trump said. “Cuba now has no income. They got all of their income from Venezuela, from the Venezuelan oil. They’re not getting any of it.”
The U.S. is currently running Venezuela, according to Trump, and Delcy Rodríguez, the nation’s vice president, is acting as the de facto leader of the nation.
Trump also answered questions regarding possible U.S. action in Iran and Greenland.
“We’ll take a look, we’re watching it very closely,” Trump said when asked about the anti-regime protests currently taking place in Iran.
“If they start killing people like they have in the past, I think they’re going to get hit very hard by the United States,” Trump said.
The president was less eager to discuss Greenland, but after being pressed on the issue, Trump told reporters the U.S. needs Greenland because of a “national security situation.”
“It’s so strategic,” Trump said. “Right now, Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place. We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security. And Denmark is not going to be able to do it, I can tell you.”
Greenland is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, a NATO ally of the U.S. Trump told reporters that no immediate action will be taken in Greenland, adding that he would like to discuss the matter more in “about two months.”
Virginia Allen is a senior news producer for The Daily Signal and host of "The Daily Signal Podcast" and "Problematic Women."
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