Trump’s Venezuela Gambit: Why He Just Threatened to Strike
Strongmen invent enemies overseas to keep their citizens in line...Trump’s doing it in real time.
Trump’s Venezuela Gambit: Why He Just Threatened to Strike
Strongmen invent enemies overseas to keep their citizens in line…Trump’s doing it in real time.
The Jack Hopkins Now Newsletter #527: Saturday, September 6th, 2025. 1:55 am CST. (I was up…why not?)
The First Rule of Every Strongman
This one is short…and to the point.
According to the New York Post, “President Trump is reportedly considering carrying out military strikes inside Venezuela to hit drug cartel targets and destabilize dictator Nicolas Maduro’s grip on the South American country.”
That was Friday evening…just a few hours ago.
When a dictator-in-the-making feels cornered at home…he doesn’t just turn up the volume domestically. He points a finger abroad.
That’s what you saw last tonight. Trump threatened Venezuela…not because he’s suddenly worried about their air force…but because every authoritarian needs an external enemy to rally his base…cover his flanks…and distract from the mess inside his own regime.
What Really Happened Tonight
Trump explicitly threatened to shoot down Venezuelan jets if they come near U.S. forces.
He has already deployed 10 F-35 fighter jets to Puerto Rico and nearby waters… framing it as a war on drug cartels.
This comes just days after a U.S. strike sank a vessel…killing 11 alleged Venezuelan-linked narco-terrorists.
Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro responded by calling for diplomacy…trying to cool it down.
On the surface, it’s about “drug cartels.” But look closer…this is the authoritarian playbook being run in real time.
The 5 Real Reasons Trump Threatened Venezuela
1. Authoritarian Theater
This is Trump flexing for his base. He looks weak at home…surrounded by investigations…chaos…and critics. Threatening Venezuela makes him look like a warrior on the world stage. It’s a distraction strategy…not a military one.
2. Rallying the Nationalist Card
Every dictator points to an “enemy at the gates.” Maduro is an easy villain: socialist… allied with Russia and China…corrupt. For Trump…he’s the perfect scarecrow.
3. Oil…Always Oil
Let’s not pretend: Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world. Every time Trump talks tough about Venezuela…oil is the unspoken prize.
4. Drug War Rebranding
Trump is re-packaging his threats as “narcoterrorism crackdowns.” It’s clever branding. People hear “cartels” and cheer. But the reality is that “cartels” become a Trojan horse for military escalation.
5. Domestic Diversion
Trump knows how to dominate the news cycle. Tonight’s Venezuela threat buries other stories…scandals…failures…cracks in his base. He waves the F-35s…and the media obediently points its cameras.
Why It Matters to You
Here’s the Jack Hopkins truth bomb: This has nothing to do with protecting you.
It’s about protecting him.
Your sons and daughters won’t be safer. They’ll be closer to war.
Your wallet won’t benefit. Oil giants will.
Your democracy won’t be stronger. It’ll be weaker…as Trump stretches presidential war powers to the breaking point.
Authoritarians love foreign crises because they justify domestic crackdowns. Remember the Patriot Act after 9/11? That was child’s play compared to what Trump dreams about.
What Comes Next
Escalation by Design: Trump thrives on brinkmanship. Expect more threats… more deployments…maybe even a limited strike.
Media Obsession: Watch cable news pivot from Trump scandals to “Venezuela showdown.” Mission accomplished.
Constitutional Stress Test: Will Congress check him? Or will they rubber-stamp another “police action” abroad? I think you know. I do…too.
What You Can Do
Don’t be distracted. Remember why he does this…to cover his tracks at home.
Hold your reps accountable. Demand they oppose unauthorized military adventurism.
Call it what it is. Not foreign policy. Not “security.” Authoritarian theater.
The Bottom Line
Trump’s Venezuela threat is not about jets…cartels…or oil. It’s about coup-proofing his image…showing the world he can act with force and daring anyone to stop him.
History is crystal clear:
When strongmen wave their fists abroad…they’re plotting their next power grab at home.
I’ll get some sleep…and I’ll be back later today.
G’nite,
-Jack
Thanks, Jack. I try to hold my reps accountable, but I have one R Senator who rarely responds, and if he does he always finds a way to justify Drumpf’s actions. Grrr.
Any buzz about conscription? I haven't seen much about the number of armed forces enlistment decline however as I parse articles, it seems so. It is interesting and very odd to me that if the voluntary enlistment of armed forces has declined and women, gay and transgender service people have been discharged or dismissed that a draft is coming. Or am I overthinking this?