President Donald Trump just notched another major win against Venezuela’s socialist government, forcing the regime to resume accepting deported Venezuelans after months of defiance. But Trump isn’t stopping there—he’s slapping Venezuela with a massive tariff, making it clear that he won’t tolerate their role in fueling illegal immigration and undermining U.S. interests.
For months, the Venezuelan government had refused to take back its own deported citizens, effectively turning America into a dumping ground for their criminals and illegal migrants. The defiance angered Trump, who swiftly cut a deal with El Salvador to house the deported Venezuelans. That power move sent Venezuela scrambling, and now, the South American regime is suddenly reversing course.
Jorge Rodríguez, Venezuela’s Assembly president and chief negotiator, begrudgingly announced the decision on March 22. “We have agreed with the U.S. government to resume the repatriation of Venezuelan migrants with an initial flight tomorrow, Sunday,” Rodríguez stated.
But even as he admitted defeat, he couldn’t resist taking a swipe at America, falsely portraying illegal immigrants as victims. “Migrating is not a crime, and we will not rest until we achieve the return of all those who require it and until we rescue our brothers kidnapped in El Salvador,” he claimed.
That statement, of course, is as absurd as it is insulting—suggesting that America enforcing its immigration laws is somehow illegitimate and referring to legal detention as “kidnapping.” But Trump wasn’t about to let Venezuela get away with its antics without consequences.
In classic Trump fashion, the president took to Truth Social to announce his next move: punishing Venezuela for its reckless behavior.
“President Donald J. Trump announced today that the United States of America will be putting what is known as a Secondary Tariff on the Country of Venezuela, for numerous reasons, including the fact that Venezuela has purposefully and deceitfully sent to the United States, undercover, tens of thousands of high-level, and other, criminals, many of whom are murderers and people of a very violent nature,” Trump wrote.
One of those criminal groups is the notorious Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua (TDA), which has been terrorizing American cities. Trump made it clear that deporting them is a top priority:
“Among the gangs they sent to the United States is Tren de Aragua, which has been given the designation of ‘Foreign Terrorist Organization.’ We are in the process of returning them to Venezuela — It is a big task!”
But Trump didn’t stop at immigration—he’s also targeting Venezuela’s oil industry. The socialist nation, which has been openly hostile to the U.S. while cozying up to adversaries like China and Russia, will now face a heavy price for its actions.
“In addition, Venezuela has been very hostile to the United States and the Freedoms which we espouse,” Trump stated. “Therefore, any Country that purchases Oil and/or Gas from Venezuela will be forced to pay a Tariff of 25% to the United States on any Trade they do with our Country.”
That move will send shockwaves through global markets, putting economic pressure on Venezuela while ensuring America isn’t indirectly funding a regime that undermines its interests.
Trump signed off by making it clear that this is just the beginning of his efforts to secure America’s borders and economic interests:
“Please let this notification serve to represent that the Department of Homeland Security, Border Patrol, and all other Law Enforcement Agencies within our Country have been so notified. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
With this latest move, Trump has once again proven that when America has a leader who puts its interests first, even hostile socialist regimes are forced to fall in line.
