Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma said Sunday that President Donald Trump has no intention of sending U.S. troops into Venezuela, even as tensions rise sharply between Washington and the Maduro regime. Speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Mullin emphasized that Trump’s actions are aimed at protecting American borders, not launching a ground operation in South America.
“He’s made it very clear we’re not going to put troops into Venezuela,” Mullin said. “What we’re trying to do is protect our own shores.”
The senator’s remarks come as Trump intensifies efforts to dismantle drug-trafficking networks tied to Venezuela. On Saturday, Trump declared the airspace above and around Venezuela “closed in its entirety,” following a Federal Aviation Administration advisory warning pilots about a “potentially hazardous situation” near the country.
“To all Airlines, Pilots, Drug Dealers, and Human Traffickers, please consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY,” Trump warned in a Truth Social post.
The administration has dramatically escalated military action since early September, authorizing strikes on vessels in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific believed to be involved in narcotics smuggling. More than 80 suspected smugglers have been killed in these operations. On Thanksgiving, Trump told U.S. military personnel that land-based action would begin “very soon.”
“You probably noticed that people aren’t wanting to be delivering by sea, and we’ll be starting to stop them by land also,” Trump said last week. “The land is easier, but that’s going to start very soon.”
Despite the growing list of strikes, Mullin—who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee—pushed back on claims that Trump is preparing airstrikes on Venezuelan territory. Instead, he framed the president’s posture as decisive and preventative.
“This is what peace through strength looks like,” Mullin said. “We’re not going to wait until you come to us. We’re going to go to you if you threaten our country.”
The Trump administration has repeatedly labeled Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro an “illegitimate” president at the head of a state-run drug-trafficking operation. Maduro has responded to U.S. pressure by deploying thousands of troops throughout the country in what he claims is preparation for possible American action.
Despite the escalating rhetoric, The New York Times reported Friday that Trump and Maduro recently spoke and discussed the possibility of a future meeting—an unexpected development given the administration’s hardline stance.
For now, Mullin urged Americans not to interpret Trump’s warnings as preparation for an invasion, but as a signal that the U.S. will act aggressively to deter threats before they reach American soil.
[READ MORE: Trump Says He’s Open to Releasing Recent MRI Results]
