Psychological warfare: Trump’s new tactic to undermine Venezuela’s president

According to The Washington Post, several sources—who requested anonymity—said the Trump administration has proposed a psychological operation designed to undermine the morale of Venezuela’s leader and encourage him to flee the country.

The White House has recently floated an idea in which U.S. military aircraft would drop leaflets over Caracas on Maduro’s birthday as part of a broader effort to intensify pressure on the Venezuelan president.

The operation, which sources say has not yet received formal approval, is intended to escalate Washington’s campaign to remove Maduro from office.

In recent months, Trump has deployed a fleet of warships and thousands of troops to the Caribbean under the pretext of combating drug trafficking—an operation launched in early September that has already resulted in the deaths of more than 80 people in the region.

Earlier this month, amid growing speculation about an imminent attack on Venezuela, Trump stated that he had “to some extent made up his mind” on how to proceed regarding the possibility of military action against the country.

According to informed sources, the new White House plan is expected to involve dropping leaflets over Caracas on Maduro’s birthday. These brochures reportedly contain information about a $50 million reward for assistance leading to Maduro’s arrest and conviction.

In August, U.S. officials referenced a 2020 indictment accusing Maduro of corruption, terrorism, and drug trafficking, and announced that the original $25 million reward for his capture had been raised to $50 million.

The leaflets are expected to be dropped today, Sunday, marking Maduro’s 63rd birthday.

The Washington Post notes that the operation is designed to increase pressure on Maduro and encourage opposition forces—without launching a direct attack on Venezuela—because Trump had pledged during his 2024 presidential campaign that he would not involve the United States in any new foreign wars. Nevertheless, he has so far conducted several air campaigns, including in Iran, Yemen, and now the Caribbean.