President Trump gave Venezuelan President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro a chance to escape the country with his life \u2014 but he had to do it immediately, according to a bombshell report.<\/p>\n
During a call between Trump\u00a0 and Maduro last week, the South American dictator demanded that he be allowed to maintain control of the military and wanted global amnesty for all crimes,\u00a0according to the Miami Herald<\/a>, citing sources.<\/p>\n Trump\u2019s response was reportedly blunt, and the talks quickly broke down. Maduro, his wife and son would be allowed to leave Venezuela safely, but they must do it immediately.<\/p>\n This handout picture released by the Venezuelan Presidency press office shows Venezuela\u2019s President Nicolas Maduro (2nd-L) walking with the first lady of Venezuela, Cilia Flores, and Venezuela\u2019s Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino (2nd-R) before a meeting with the high military command in Caracas on September 5, 2025. Venezuelan Presidency\/AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n Following the failed attempt to reach a detente, Trump announced he was closing the airspace<\/a> around the South American country \u2014 as America\u2019s largest warship, the USS Gerald Ford, and a Marine Expeditionary Unit \u2014 capable of amphibious invasion \u2014 float offshore.<\/p>\n Trump warned over the weekend that military operations inside Venezuela could begin \u201cvery soon.\u201d<\/p>\n President Trump issued a stern warning to Maduro during a recent phone call, according to a report. AFP via Getty Images<\/p>\n The tense phone call reportedly took place late in the week of Nov. 16, according to the New York Times, just days after Trump said he was open to talking with Maduro.\u00a0<\/p>\n The call reportedly saw Trump and Maduro\u2019s team go over the details of what a surrender from the Venezuelan strongman would be like, given that the state department has a bounty on his head for $50 million.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cFirst, Maduro asked for global amnesty for any crimes he and his group had committed, and that was rejected,\u201d a source familiar with the call told the Herald.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cSecond, they asked to retain control of the armed forces \u2014 similar to what happened in Nicaragua in \u201991 with Violeta Chamorro. In return, they would allow free elections,\u201d the source added.\u00a0<\/p>\n