Trump leaves world guessing after labeling Maduro a terrorist, hinting at talks with Venezuela

By Fox News · Fox News

President Donald Trump is keeping the world guessing about his next move in Venezuela — simultaneously labeling President Nicolás Maduro the head of a terrorist organization and hinting the U.S. may be open to talks with the Venezuelan leader. The moment captures a familiar pattern in Trump’s foreign policy: blending threats and outreach to keep opponents uncertain of U.S. intentions. His allies say the ambiguity is leverage; critics call it improvisation that risks miscalculation. "We may be having some conversations with Maduro, and we’ll see how that turns out. They would like to talk," Trump told reporters over the weekend. The comment came shortly after Secretary of State Marco Rubio designated Cartel de los Soles a foreign terrorist organization, a move that expands U.S. legal authorities to pursue Maduro and his inner circle under counterterrorism statutes — and potentially as military targets. TRUMP AGREES MADURO’S DAYS AS VENEZUELA’S PRESIDENT ARE NUMBERED IN ‘60 MINUTES’ INTERVIEW Trump suggested the designation allows the U.S. military to target Maduro’s assets and infrastructure inside Venezuela. "It allows us to do that, but we haven’t said we’re going to do that," the president said. Days earlier, Trump had hinted he’d made up his mind about whether to start a direct conflict. "I sort of have made up my mind — yeah. I mean, I can’t tell you what it would be, but I sort of have," he said. The U.S. now has more military assets in the region than it has in decades, topped off by the arrival of the world’s largest aircraft carrier, the USS Gerald R. Ford, on Sunday. The Department of War — the renamed Pentagon under Trump — has carried out 21 strikes on maritime targets allegedly carrying drugs toward the U.S. Trump also said he doesn’t believe he needs congressional authorization to carry out the strikes. TRUMP REVEALS MADURO 'WOULD LIKE TO TALK' AS MILITARY OPTIONS REMAIN ON THE TABLE FOR VENEZUELA "We like to keep Congress involved. I mean, we’re stopp…