Trump tells troops on Thanksgiving call land strikes on Venezuela are coming "very soon"

During a Thanksgiving video call with U.S. military troops, President Trump says land strikes on Venezuela will happen "very soon," escalating his public statements beyond the September–October boat strikes of Operation Southern Spear. Trump says the operations are targeting Tren de Aragua, which his administration designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization in February 2025 and later cited as legal justification for the strikes. The statement comes three weeks after the Senate voted 49-51 on November 6 to reject S.J.Res.90, a War Powers Resolution requiring congressional authorization. The call is broadcast publicly. Trump does not consult Congress before the statement. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz had supported the Venezuela operation in classified Senate briefings the week prior.