In a bombshell allegation that has sent shockwaves through political circles, prominent conservative commentator Tucker Carlson has suggested that former President Donald Trump might use a scheduled national address to declare war on Venezuela. Carlson made these startling remarks during an appearance on the online programme 'Judging Freedom'.
Carlson's Allegation and Congressional Briefing
Carlson, a right-wing media figure, claimed he received information from a sitting member of Congress. According to him, lawmakers were briefed ahead of Trump's planned 9 pm televised speech. "Members of Congress were briefed yesterday that a war [with Venezuela] is coming, and it will be announced in [Trump’s] address to the administration tonight," Carlson stated, as per a transcript circulated on social media.
However, Carlson also expressed uncertainty, noting he was not entirely sure if Trump would follow through with a formal announcement of a full-scale military conflict. This claim arrives without any official confirmation from the White House or the Pentagon, leaving it as a provocative yet unverified assertion.
Escalating US Military Posture in the Region
The context for Carlson's claim is a significant and rapid escalation of US military actions against Venezuela, a nation with which Washington has had profoundly sour relations for years. The Trump administration has recently intensified its operations on a questionable scale.
Earlier this week, Trump ordered a full naval blockade targeting oil tankers moving in or out of Venezuelan waters. The former President justified this aggressive move as a direct response to what he termed Venezuela's "theft" of American oil and other assets. This blockade is not an isolated incident but part of a broader, hardening US military stance in the Caribbean region.
This broader posture includes several key components:
- A major naval deployment across the Caribbean Sea.
- Multiple airstrikes targeting vessels suspected of drug trafficking.
- The seizure of a Venezuelan oil tanker off the nation's own coast.
Bipartisan Concern and Constitutional Hurdles
These actions have sparked deep concern and uncertainty among US lawmakers from both major political parties. Many are unclear about the ultimate scope and legal authorisation for these military operations.
Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen issued a stark warning, suggesting that the Pentagon's moves could be interpreted as probing "unauthorised acts of war." Echoing this grave concern, Republican Senator Rand Paul characterised the recent escalatory steps as an "initiation of war."
Venezuela's government has vehemently condemned the US blockade, labelling it a blatant violation of international law and a serious threat to stability in the Latin American region.
Critically, under the US Constitution, a formal declaration of war requires explicit approval from Congress. Lawmakers, aware of this, have already begun introducing resolutions designed to prevent any further military escalation without proper legislative authorisation, setting up a potential constitutional clash.
Precedent of Military Strikes
The current tension follows controversial US military strikes in recent months. In mid-September, Trump announced that American forces executed an operation in international waters against a boat linked to Venezuelan drug trafficking. The strike killed three individuals described by the administration as "positively identified, extraordinarily violent drug trafficking cartels and narcoterrorists" en route to the United States.
Trump publicly took credit for ordering the strike and even posted a short, declassified video on social media showing the boat exploding at sea. This incident itself followed an earlier attack on September 2, 2025, which resulted in eleven fatalities.
As the nation awaits Trump's address, the combination of Carlson's alarming claim, the existing military buildup, and bipartisan anxiety in Congress creates a moment of high tension and uncertainty regarding US foreign policy in Latin America.
