Trump on Venezuela: "I Would Do Exactly the Same Thing That Maduro Did"

Trump: If I ran Venezuela, if I ran any country, I would do exactly the same thing that Maduro did.

The president made the remark at a White House Hispanic Heritage Month event on September 30, in a wide-ranging speech that touched on immigration, the 2024 election, and his own East Wing ballroom project.

The Full Quote

"If I ran Venezuela, if I ran any country, I would do exactly the same thing that Maduro did," Trump said. "They emptied their prisons. They emptied their mental institutions. And they just sent them into our country. It was crazy."

The claim that Venezuela emptied its prisons into the United States has been repeated by Trump many times without supporting evidence.

The remark also drew attention because the U.S. captured Maduro in January and has been working with interim president Delcy Rodriguez, with Trump previously saying America will "run" Venezuela.

The Event

The speech ranged across familiar themes. Trump joked about a balcony at the event, claimed record Hispanic support in 2024, and defended his immigration crackdown.

On the immigration crackdown itself, Trump said, "Frankly, it's the hardest job I've had."

He also claimed zero successful unauthorized border crossings over the past 17 months, while defending strict enforcement measures.

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What It Means for Markets

Venezuela is an energy story at its core. The country holds some of the world's largest oil reserves, and the U.S. posture toward Caracas moves the needle on crude.

Watch the oil majors with Venezuelan exposure. Chevron and Exxon are the names to track as Washington's Venezuela policy evolves.

A harder line on immigration enforcement can also ripple through labor-heavy sectors like construction, agriculture, and hospitality, feeding into consumer spending data.

Any escalation in geopolitical rhetoric tends to bid up energy volatility first. More coverage at Unusual Whales news.

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