U.S. considers dropping leaflets in Venezuela as it ramps up pressure on Maduro, sources say

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: CBS News

November 22, 2025 / 10:39 PM EST


Officials in the Trump administration on Saturday discussed the possibility of dropping leaflets on Venezuela's capital city of Caracas as it seeks to weaken the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.

Among the potential avenues discussed regarding operations for Venezuela was dropping U.S. leaflets on Caracas as a kind of psychological warfare to pressure Maduro, multiple U.S. officials familiar with the talks told CBS News. The operation, which was not yet authorized, could possibly take place Sunday, the officials said, which is Maduro's 63rd birthday. The Washington Post was first to report on the proposed leaflet operation.

Over the past few months, the U.S. has ratcheted up the pressure on Maduro in multiple ways, including an extensive military buildup in the region, live fire exercises, and strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. When asked Monday, President Trump said he wouldn't rule out sending U.S. troops into Venezuela. "No, I don't rule out that," the president said. "I don't rule out anything. We just have to take care of Venezuela."

For his part, Maduro on the same day said he would be open to "face-to-face" discussions with Mr. Trump. Last month, Mr. Trump also confirmed that he has authorized the CIA to go into Venezuela and conduct covert operations.

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/u-s-considers-dropping-leaflets-venezuela-maduro/

[Irish_Dem]

1. I wonder if Canada and Europe would start dropping leaflets here in the US.

Leaflets describing the important of a democracy and allies.

[Irish_Dem]

2. "We just have to take care of Venezuela."

While he refuses to take care of the US.

[Karadeniz]

3. He announced covert operations ...??

[slightlv]

9. I caught that, too...

he just admitted to sending "boots on the ground" to the country. In effect, he's declared war without going to Congress first. Isn't this illegal? But when did illegality ever stop him from doing anything? Especially since it seems like everyone in the entire world is terrified of doing anything to stop him. JFK was assassinated; so was MLK. It seems like it was so much easier before the technology age took off.

[Clouds Passing]

4. Following Nitty's MO

[Martin68]

5. "Drop leaflets?" WTF?

[mdbl]

8. Seriously WTF!

We are meddling in the politics of other countries out in the open? WTF is the CIA for then.

[Martin68]

10. Not only meddling, but taking steps that are weak and ineffective. Dropping leaflets is Trump

admitting that he's in over his head.

[Bayard]

6. LITTERING,

And violating Venezuela's airspace.

[Bo Zarts]

7. Sounds like a decades-old joke of mine that I used when asked what I flew in Vietnam ..

Since what I flew was top-secret, crypto, special intelligence, etc., I liked to answer people by telling them that in Vietnam I flew for the Salvation Army dropping "Come-to-Jesus" tracts over the Ho Chi Minh Trail.

Actually, there were many psyops (psychological warfare) programs in Vietnam that involved dropping US propaganda leaflets from aircraft. The most notable of these programs involved the Chiêu Hồi, or "Open Arms," initiative. Chiêu Hồi tried to get VC and PAVN (NVA) soldiers to surrender, and offered varying degrees of rewards for "returning," especially with weapons.

The effectiveness of the US military's Chiêu Hồi program is a subject of debate. The US government claims that around 194,000 VC and PAVN soldiers crossed over. That number is, by many, considered wildly exaggerated. Without a doubt, some Chiêu Hồi deserters met fates worse that death .. and then death .. at the hands of their US "hosts."