Venezuela's authoritarian President Nicolás Maduro confirmed that he held a phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump on November 21, describing the conversation as respectful and potentially opening the door to renewed diplomatic engagement between the two governments.
"About ten days ago the White House called the Miraflores Palace and I had a conversation with President Donald Trump," Maduro said during a televised appearance in Caracas. "It was in a tone of respect, even cordial. If that call means that steps are being taken toward respectful dialogue, welcome dialogue and diplomacy."
Maduro said he had refrained from commenting earlier out of "prudence," adding that "when there are important matters, silence is necessary until they come to pass."
#AHORA | Nicolás Maduro rompe el silencio y confirma por su parte la llamada con Trump:
— Orlando Avendaño (@OrlvndoA) December 3, 2025
“Fue en un tono de respeto. Inclusive, puedo decir que hasta cordial (…) Si esa llamada significa que se están dando pasos hacia un diálogo respetuoso, Estado a Estado, bienvenido”. pic.twitter.com/vulgbacJoB
President Trump acknowledged the call earlier this week while speaking with reporters aboard Air Force One. "The answer is yes," he said Sunday when asked if he spoke with Maduro, adding, "I don't want to comment on it... It was a phone call." On Wednesday, he again told reporters, "I spoke briefly with him about a couple of issues. We'll see what happens."
The phone contact occurred during a period of heightened U.S. military pressure around Venezuela. The Trump administration has launched more than 20 strikes on vessels it alleges were involved in drug trafficking, killing more than 80 people in the process. Trump has said the operations are "much more" than a pressure campaign.
Maduro did not comment on Trump's recent threats to expand operations targeting alleged Venezuelan drug networks on land. He instead emphasized his preference for negotiation, saying he trusts that "everything will turn out well for the peace, independence, dignity, and future of Venezuela."
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Recent reporting has suggested the two leaders discussed potential political exit terms for Maduro, including amnesty and the lifting of U.S. sanctions, though Maduro did not address those accounts. According to Reuters and other outlets, Trump rejected conditions tied to any proposed transition.
Despite the military buildup near Venezuela's coast and U.S. warnings about Venezuelan airspace, Maduro said communication channels remain open. He confirmed the resumption of U.S.-requested flights returning deported Venezuelan migrants and suggested the call may signal "a respectful path" between the two nations after years without formal diplomatic ties.
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