U.S. officials discussed around Nov. 22, 2025 the option of distributing leaflets over Caracas as part of a campaign to increase pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The proposal, described by multiple U.S. sources to CBS News, was one of several measures being considered amid an expanded U.S. military presence in the region. The leaflet operation was not authorized at the time of reporting and could have coincided with Maduro’s 63rd birthday on Sunday. The discussions come after months of U.S. actions that include live-fire exercises, maritime strikes and a larger troop deployment.
Key Takeaways
- U.S. officials privately explored dropping leaflets on Caracas as a form of psychological pressure; the plan had not been approved as of Nov. 22, 2025.
- President Trump said he would not rule out sending U.S. troops to Venezuela, stating, “I don’t rule out anything.”
- The Pentagon has conducted at least 21 strikes since early September, which U.S. officials say killed at least 80 people.
- Roughly 15,000 U.S. service members are deployed in the region, including carrier and destroyer groups and several dozen fighter jets based in Puerto Rico.
- The U.S. has accused Maduro of running a drug-trafficking network and is offering a $50 million reward for information leading to his arrest.
- Maduro said he would be open to “face-to-face” talks with President Trump during public comments on Nov. 22, 2025.
Background
Relations between Washington and Caracas have been sharply adversarial since Maduro declared victory in Venezuela’s July 2024 presidential election amid widespread allegations of fraud. The U.S. and several other countries declined to recognize the outcome, and the Trump administration has intensified pressure through diplomatic, economic and military levers. U.S. officials have publicly accused Maduro of enabling or running a cartel that funnels drugs into the United States, an allegation accompanied by a $50 million reward for information leading to his arrest.
Over the last months the U.S. presence in the Caribbean and western Atlantic has increased notably. The deployment includes an aircraft carrier, multiple guided-missile destroyers and cruisers, an amphibious assault ship and transport dock vessels. U.S. statements say some operations target narcotics trafficking; independent public evidence tying each struck vessel to drug smuggling has not been published by the Pentagon.
Main Event
Multiple U.S. officials told CBS News that senior members of the Trump administration discussed leaflet drops over Caracas on Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025. The planned action was framed internally as psychological operations aimed at creating political pressure on Maduro and signaling resolve to Venezuelan security forces and civilians. Officials said the operation could have been timed for Maduro’s birthday, though authorization had not been issued by reporters’ deadline.
The discussions came amid a string of U.S. maritime strikes in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific that the Pentagon says targeted drug-carrying vessels. Pentagon briefings report at least 21 strikes since early September, with an estimated 80 fatalities attributed to those actions. Defense officials assert the strikes are aimed at cartels and traffickers; they have not released public proof that all struck vessels were carrying illegal narcotics.
U.S. troop strength in the region stands at about 15,000 personnel, officials said. Naval assets near Venezuela included the USS Gerald R. Ford and three guided missile destroyers in the western Atlantic, plus seven ships in the Caribbean, according to a Navy source. There are also multiple fighter jets staged in Puerto Rico, signaling a readiness posture that U.S. leaders describe as deterrent and contingency-oriented.
Analysis & Implications
A leaflet drop would be a low-cost, low-casualty method of psychological pressure but carries diplomatic and legal risks. Such an action over a sovereign capital could be framed by Caracas and allied states as a provocative act, potentially escalating rhetoric and complicating back-channel diplomacy. The choice to use leaflets rather than kinetic force suggests interest in messaging campaigns that aim to influence public sentiment and security loyalties inside Venezuela.
The broader U.S. approach—combining naval deployments, targeted strikes and covert-authorized activity—indicates a layered strategy to degrade trafficking networks while seeking leverage against Maduro’s government. However, military pressure alone has uncertain effects on entrenched political leadership; previous external efforts to prompt regime change in Venezuela have produced limited results and often reinforced nationalist narratives.
Regionally, increased U.S. military actions raise the risk of miscalculation with other actors operating in the Caribbean and Atlantic. Countries that view U.S. measures as infringing on sovereignty could respond diplomatically or by deepening ties with Caracas. Economically, supply-chain and shipping disruptions from maritime operations and heightened tensions could raise costs for regional commerce and insurance premiums for maritime traffic.
Comparison & Data
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| U.S. strikes since early Sept. | 21 |
| Reported fatalities from strikes | At least 80 |
| U.S. troops in region | About 15,000 |
| Reward for Maduro | $50 million |
The table above summarizes public figures reported by U.S. officials and media outlets through Nov. 22, 2025. These counts provide a snapshot of kinetic activity and force posture; analysts caution that casualty tallies and the attribution of maritime targets can change as investigations proceed.
Reactions & Quotes
When pressed about the possibility of deploying troops, President Trump told reporters he would not rule out military action in Venezuela. In brief remarks on Nov. 22, 2025 he said he was prepared to consider a range of options.
“No, I don’t rule out that. I don’t rule out anything. We just have to take care of Venezuela.”
President Donald Trump (Nov. 22, 2025)
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro responded publicly the same day, indicating willingness to meet face-to-face with the U.S. president, a remark that Maduro framed as openness to direct dialogue rather than capitulation.
“I would be open to face-to-face discussions.”
Nicolás Maduro (Nov. 22, 2025)
Defense officials described the maritime strikes as efforts to disrupt drug trafficking. Independent observers and some journalists have noted the Pentagon has not publicly released conclusive evidence linking every struck vessel to narcotics shipments, leaving questions about target verification and collateral impact.
Unconfirmed
- The leaflet operation described by officials had not received formal authorization at the time of reporting and its timing was subject to internal approval.
- The Pentagon has not released public evidence proving that each vessel struck in the Caribbean or Eastern Pacific was carrying illegal narcotics.
- Media accounts differ on which agencies within the U.S. government had final decision authority for psychological operations targeting Caracas.
Bottom Line
The discussion of leaflet drops over Caracas reflects an American strategy that blends military presence with messaging tactics to pressure Nicolás Maduro. The option underscores Washington’s willingness to explore non-kinetic means of influence, but it also highlights risks: escalation, diplomatic fallout and uncertain impact on Maduro’s hold on power.
Going forward, key indicators to watch include any formal authorization of leaflet or other psychological operations, additional public or classified evidence tying maritime strikes to narcotics shipments, and responses from regional governments. These elements will shape whether U.S. pressure translates into political change, a protracted standoff, or a recalibration of tactics.
Sources
- CBS News (U.S. journalism)
- The Washington Post (U.S. journalism; earlier reporting on proposed leaflet operation)
- U.S. Department of Defense (official statements)
- The White House (official statements)