Trump gives Nicolas Maduro ultimatum to leave Venezuela immediately amid rising tensions: Report

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump gave Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro a stern ultimatum to leave Venezuela immediately before announcing that the country's airspace should be closed, a report revealed.

During a call between the POTUS and Maduro, the Venezuelan leader demanded that he be allowed to maintain control of the South American nation’s military if he paved the way for free elections there, according to the Miami Herald. He also reportedly sought global amnesty for his crimes.

Trump rejects Maduro demands, warns Venezuela military action is imminent

President Trump swiftly refused on both counts and followed up with an offer Maduro may not be able to refuse, leave now or else.

Interestingly, talks between the two leaders quickly broke down, as a US politician on Sunday, November 30, lamented that the ongoing "war" between both sides is already deadlier than Vietnam for his state.

As the conversation between Trump and Maduro failed to reach a detente, the POTUS said he was closing the airspace around Venezuela as the US’s largest warship, the USS Gerald R Ford, and a Marine Expeditionary Unit floated offshore. Moreover, the president also warned that military operations inside Venezuela could begin "very soon."

On Sunday, Trump told reporters that he spoke with Maduro recently and added, "I wouldn’t say it went well or badly."

The phone call between the two reportedly took place around mid-November, according to the New York Times, days after Trump said he was open to talking with the Venezuelan leader.

The call between Trump’s and Maduro’s teams focused on the details of what a surrender from the Venezuelan President would look like, given that the State Department has a $50 million bounty on his head. Moreover, Trump informed Maduro that he, his wife, and his son would be allowed to leave Venezuela safely, but they must do so immediately, according to sources. 

"First, Maduro asked for global amnesty for any crimes he and his group had committed, and that was rejected," an insider familiar with the call told the Miami Herald.

The source added, "Second, they asked to retain control of the armed forces, similar to what happened in Nicaragua in ’91 with Violeta Chamorro. In return, they would allow free elections."

Trump brushes off Venezuela airspace closure questions

President Trump insisted that Venezuela had effectively closed its airspace. Reporters asked the POTUS whether that signaled something major was about to happen, but the president told them they were overthinking it. He told reporters not to "read anything into it."

Trump maintained that Venezuela’s airspace is essentially shut, claiming the South American country was allowing criminals to slip into the US. He went on to call Venezuela "not a very friendly country." The US and Venezuela have been in the spotlight for weeks as tensions have grown. The US recently surged its military presence around the Caribbean and carried out more than 20 strikes on vessels it says were carrying narcotics.

The operations reportedly resulted in over 80 deaths, though Washington has not publicly released any evidence. Meanwhile, Venezuela’s government responded by accusing the US of using the missions to force out Maduro.