In a dramatic claim that has sent shockwaves through financial markets and diplomatic circles, prominent broadcaster Tucker Carlson has stated that President Donald Trump will use a televised address to the nation to announce a war with Venezuela.
Carlson's Bombshell Claim and Immediate Fallout
Carlson made the assertion during an appearance on the Judge Napolitano podcast on Wednesday. He told listeners that members of Congress had been briefed that "a war is coming" and it would be declared by the president in his 9 PM address. However, the commentator swiftly added significant caveats, noting, "Who knows, by the way, if that will actually happen? I don't know."
The claim emerged amidst intense speculation over the content of Trump's scheduled speech. The White House had previously stated the address would focus on the administration's achievements over the past year and outline goals for 2026.
Financial markets reacted immediately to the heightened tensions. Brent crude oil spiked towards $60 per barrel, while shares in major energy firms like Exxon Mobil, BP, and Shell saw sharp increases.
Military Buildup and a "Total" Blockade
The rhetoric follows a significant escalation in US actions. On Wednesday night, President Trump ordered a 'total and complete' blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers travelling to and from Venezuela. This move was denounced by Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro as "warmongering."
The United States has assembled its largest military force in the Caribbean since the Cold War. This deployment includes the USS Gerald Ford, the world's largest aircraft carrier. Since September, US operations have targeted narcotics trafficking, striking at least 25 alleged narco-terror vessels and killing at least 95 people, primarily in the Caribbean Sea.
President Trump has accused Maduro's government of using stolen oil to finance "drug terrorism, human trafficking, murder, and kidnapping." He has refused to rule out strikes inside Venezuela to target cartels he claims Maduro is helping to facilitate the production and export of the deadly opioid fentanyl into the US.
Global Reactions and Fears of Intervention
The escalating situation has drawn condemnation from US Democrats and foreign nations alike. Democratic Representative Joaquin Castro warned that Trump's naval blockade is "unquestionably an act of war."
Mexico's President, Claudia Sheinbaum, criticised the United Nations for being "nowhere to be seen" and called for it to act to "prevent any bloodshed." China, the main market for Venezuelan oil, defended Caracas, with its foreign minister stating opposition to "unilateral bullying" and supporting countries' rights to defend their sovereignty.
Analysts from Capital Economics warned that the blockade "would cut off a key lifeline for Venezuela's economy" in the short term. Venezuela's oil production has already plummeted from over three million barrels per day in the early 2000s to just one million today, exacerbated by a US oil embargo in place since 2019.
Despite the mounting pressure, the Venezuelan military stated on Wednesday it was "not intimidated" by the threats, as fears grow of a potential US intervention to dislodge Maduro from power.
