Bolton Says Trump In Deep Trouble
Former Trump national security adviser John Bolton is publicly breaking with the president over how the United States should handle Venezuela following the dramatic arrest of longtime strongman Nicolás Maduro.
In a television interview Tuesday, Bolton argued that President Trump does not fully understand the political realities on the ground in Venezuela and is misjudging who should lead the country during its transition away from socialist rule.
According to Bolton, the administration risks undermining stability by sidelining Venezuela’s democratic opposition at a critical moment.
Bolton Claims Trump ‘Confused’ About Venezuela Leadership
Bolton told CNN that Trump appeared unclear about the roles of Venezuela’s opposition figures and the importance of installing leaders with broad public legitimacy.
“I don’t think he understands what’s happening there,” Bolton said, adding that the administration is moving too quickly toward negotiations with figures tied to the former Maduro regime.
The criticism comes just days after U.S. forces captured Maduro, who has since pleaded not guilty to narco-terrorism and weapons charges in a New York federal court alongside his wife, Cilia Flores.
Trump Skeptical of Opposition Leader’s Support
President Trump has questioned whether opposition leader María Corina Machado — who recently received the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize — has sufficient backing inside Venezuela to govern effectively.
“I think it would be very tough for her to be the leader,” Trump told reporters, signaling concerns about national unity and long-term stability.
Machado fled Venezuela after the deeply disputed 2024 election, in which Maduro declared victory despite international observers and opposition vote tallies pointing to widespread fraud. She has since vowed to return to the country “as soon as possible.”
U.S. Plans to Oversee Transition and Oil Infrastructure
Trump has made clear that the United States will temporarily oversee Venezuela’s transition to prevent the country from collapsing back into chaos or falling under foreign influence.
He has also stated that American energy companies will help rebuild Venezuela’s oil infrastructure — a key issue given that the country holds the largest proven oil reserves in the world, yet produced only a fraction of OPEC’s output last year due to years of corruption and mismanagement.
“We don’t want to repeat the same failure we’ve seen for years,” Trump said.
Bolton Warns Against Dealing With Maduro Loyalists
Bolton strongly criticized any attempt to work with Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela’s vice president, who has assumed control following Maduro’s arrest. Rodríguez has publicly called for cooperation with Washington and urged peace rather than conflict.
Bolton, however, warned that negotiating with Maduro’s inner circle could prolong instability and betray Venezuelans who voted for change.
“I think the administration is making a serious mistake by throwing Machado under the bus,” Bolton said. He argued that Machado and opposition-backed candidate Edmundo González represent the best chance for a stable, democratic transition.
Policy Decisions Now in Hands of Trump’s Inner Circle
Trump has said Venezuela policy will be directed by a senior leadership group that includes Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and senior White House officials.
As Venezuela stands at a historic crossroads, the debate highlights a growing divide between establishment foreign policy voices and Trump’s America-first strategy — particularly when U.S. energy security, border stability, and national security interests are at stake.
