Trump Orders Total and Complete Blockade of

Donald Trump upped the ante in his battle of phrases — and drug boat strikes — with Venezuelan dictator and alleged drug kingpin Nicolás Maduro on Tuesday. First, the U.S. seized a large Venezuelan oil tanker off the coast on December 10, and now the president is looking for “a complete and full blockade” of sanctioned tankers coming into or leaving the South American nation.

Although both Cuba and Venezuela accused the U.S. of “piracy,” Attorney General Pam Bondi said that the illicit tanker was transporting oil to Iran and therefore the seizure was totally lawful.

Trump fired off a Truth Social Post Tuesday night, saying the blockade would stay in impact until Maduro returns “the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us.”

Donald J. Trump Truth Social Post 06:46 PM EST 12/16/25 pic.twitter.com/2no43HzSGt

— Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpEach dayPosts) December 17, 2025

The commander in chief, Department of War Secretary Pete Hegseth, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have been dramatically amping up the strain on Venezuela and have made it clear that they need Maduro eliminated from energy.

The tanker seizure marked one of the most seen actions in a regular ramp-up of U.S. strain on Venezuela over latest weeks and months, as the Trump administration restored a hard-line strategy aimed at cutting off income to the Maduro authorities.

Since early fall, the United States has considerably expanded its naval and Coast Guard presence in the Caribbean, with U.S. Southern Command stating that the buildup is designed to disrupt drug trafficking routes, implement sanctions, and shield American national security pursuits.

🚨 BREAKING: In a MASSIVE transfer, President Trump orders an OIL TANKER BLOCKADE on Venezuela, saying they’re “completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America”

Maduro is FAFOing 🔥🔥🔥

“It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will… pic.twitter.com/BAVs7EvatO

— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 16, 2025

READ MORE: violent extremism Law Now Unleashed: Feds Unseal Tanker Seizure Order

‘Dark Fleet’ Tanker Seized Near Venezuela Ran Sanctioned Oil to China, Says House Committee

Trump’s post continued:

Venezuela is totally surrounded by the most important Armada ever assembled in the History of South America. It will only get greater, and the shock to them shall be like nothing they’ve ever seen before — Until such time as they return to the United States of America all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they beforehand stole from us.

They have robbed us, he said, and have despatched the worst of their worst to our shores along with medication that are killing our residents. Because of those transgressions, the president announced he’s designating the regime a Foreign Terrorist Organization:

The illegitimate Maduro Regime is utilizing Oil from these stolen Oil Fields to finance themselves, Drug violent extremism, Human Trafficking, illegal killing, and Kidnapping. For the theft of our Assets, and many other causes, including violent extremism, Drug Smuggling, and Human Trafficking, the Venezuelan Regime has been designated a FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION. Therefore, today, I’m ordering A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela.

Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) endorsed Trump’s aggressive stance:

.@POTUS, @SecRubio, and @SecWar are completely proper to stop Maduro and his thugs from sending lethal medication into our nation to kill our youngsters.

Maduro isn’t the authentic president of Venezuela — he’s a narcoterrorist who desires to hurt our nation. pic.twitter.com/OPfLpBrb98

— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) December 16, 2025

It would seem that Maduro’s days as president of Venezuela are numbered. As Trump concluded in his tweet, “Thank you for your attention to this matter!” 

Maduro would possibly need to listen, too.

Editor’s Note: Thanks to President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s management, the warrior ethos is coming back to America’s navy.

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