Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro is facing a stark choice as U.S. pressure intensifies: negotiate with President Donald Trump or face a targeted U.S. military strike aimed at crippling his regime, former Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie told Newsmax on Monday.
"If the Venezuelans do not agree to talk to President Trump and stop the transfer of narcotics through their networks to the United States, then I think you might see a strike that would decapitate his means of terror, the apparatus that he uses to terrorize his own people," Wilkie, former undersecretary of defense and now co-chair of the Center for National Security at the America First Policy Institute, told Newsmax's "Wake Up America."
Trump's posture mirrors historic U.S. pressure on hostile regimes, according to Wilkie, pointing to former President George H.W. Bush's handling of Manuel Noriega in Panama.
In Venezuela's case, Wilkie said the stakes are similarly high and time is running short.
"It would be a decapitation attack, as I said, eliminating his means of terrorizing his own people," Wilkie added. "Remember, these security services were put in place and trained by the Cubans. The Iranians are there as well. And, in some instances, Russian security services are there.
"So, you know, it's a rogue's gallery supporting this, essentially this street thug, who has the economy of one of the richest, potentially richest countries on the planet.
"He – and Chávez before him with the oil reserves that are equal, or in some cases greater than, Saudi Arabia – has bankrupted this country. People are leaving daily by the thousands because of this man, and he sustains his regime through criminal activity."
The comments came as the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier strike group looms off Venezuela's coast, signaling U.S. readiness.
Wilkie stressed that Trump is open to talks — but will not hesitate to act if Maduro refuses cooperation. He underscored that any potential strike would be a high-precision operation, not a deployment of ground forces, in line with the president's long-standing reluctance to put American troops in harm's way.
"The president is not one who wants to automatically put American troops on the ground, and I don't think he'll do that here," Wilkie told co-hosts Marc Lotter and Sharla McBride.
Newsmax writer Eric Mack contributed to this report.
GET TODAY NEWSMAX+:
NEWSMAX is the fastest-growing cable news channel in America with more than 30 million people watching!
Reuters Institute reports NEWSMAX is one of the top news brands in the U.S.
You need to watch NEWSMAX today.
Get it with great shows from Rob Schmitt, Greta Van Susteren, Greg Kelly, Carl Higbie, Rob Finnerty – and many more!
Find the NEWSMAX channel on your cable system – Go Here Now
BEST OFFER:
Sign up for NEWSMAX+ and get NEWSMAX, our streaming channel NEWSMAX2 and our military channel World at War.
Find hundreds of shows, movies and specials.
Even get Jon Voight's special series and President Trump's comedy programs and much more!
Watch NEWSMAX+ on your smartphone or home TV app.
Watch NEWSMAX anytime, anywhere!
Start your FREE trial now: NewsmaxPlus.com
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.