Trump Changes The RULES – Venezuela’s CARTEL Now VULNERABLE

The U.S. has officially declared Venezuela’s Cartel de los Soles a terrorist organization, giving law enforcement real firepower to finally confront a criminal regime that has fueled chaos at our border and threatened American sovereignty for years.

Story Snapshot

Cartel de los Soles becomes the first Venezuelan cartel designated as both a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) and Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT).
The move exposes the Maduro regime’s direct ties to narco-terrorism and cross-border crime threatening U.S. security.
Expanded legal powers now allow the Trump administration to seize cartel assets and prosecute their networks in the U.S. and abroad.
This action reflects a decisive shift from the failed appeasement and open-border chaos of previous administrations.

Trump Administration Elevates Cartel Threat to National Emergency

In early 2025, the Trump administration designated the notorious Cartel de los Soles as a Foreign Terrorist Organization and Specially Designated Global Terrorist. This marks the first time a Venezuelan cartel has received this dual status. The designation comes on the heels of years of escalating criminal activity linked to Venezuelan officials, and it signals a sea change from the ineffective border and drug policies of the past. By invoking both terrorism and global sanctions statutes, President Trump has equipped U.S. agencies with unprecedented authority to freeze assets, target leadership, and dismantle transnational criminal networks threatening American families and communities.

The cartel’s deep entanglement with the Maduro regime has long blurred the line between organized crime and state power, undermining regional stability and directly contributing to the flood of narcotics and illegal migrants pouring into the United States. The Trump administration’s move follows years of mounting evidence that top Venezuelan officials—including President Nicolás Maduro himself—have played a central role in facilitating cocaine trafficking, money laundering, and support for other terrorist groups. These actions have not only enriched corrupt elites in Caracas but also fueled the violence and lawlessness that spill onto American soil.

Expanded Legal Arsenal: From Asset Seizures to Criminal Prosecution

Designating Cartel de los Soles as both FTO and SDGT radically expands the operational toolkit available to U.S. law enforcement and intelligence. Authorities can now freeze U.S.-linked assets, block financial transactions, and bring criminal charges against anyone providing material support to the cartel, no matter where they operate. This is a decisive break from the old playbook, which relied primarily on anti-narcotics measures and left gaping loopholes exploited by transnational criminals. The Trump administration’s action follows similar moves against the Sinaloa Cartel and Tren de Aragua, reflecting a broader campaign to restore border security and American sovereignty after years of failed, open-border policies and globalist appeasement.

For years, progressive infiltration of Venezuelan state institutions allowed criminal networks to expand unchecked, with the previous administration’s soft approach emboldening both cartels and corrupt regimes. Now, with expanded intelligence-sharing and operational planning among U.S. agencies, the days of criminal organizations exploiting our legal and financial systems with impunity are ending. The administration’s coordinated crackdown, backed by strong executive orders and bipartisan Congressional support, is restoring the rule of law and upholding the Constitution where it matters most—at our borders and in our communities.

Impact: Weakening the Maduro Regime and Defending American Families

Immediate effects include the freezing of assets and the severing of financial networks that fund cartel operations and the Maduro regime’s grip on power. Law enforcement now has the legal authority to pursue not just drug traffickers, but also corrupt officials and facilitators who threaten U.S. national security. While some experts warn of diplomatic tensions or short-term risks to Venezuelan civilians, the Trump administration has made clear that protecting Americans and upholding the rule of law are non-negotiable. The designation further isolates the Maduro regime, disrupts criminal networks, and sends a clear message to foreign powers: the U.S. will not tolerate threats to its sovereignty or the safety of its citizens.

This policy shift also imposes new compliance obligations on the banking sector, helping block money laundering and illicit finance tied to terrorism and trafficking. For American families frustrated by years of border chaos, rising crime, and the erosion of constitutional values, this is a concrete step toward restoring order and security. The administration’s approach stands in stark contrast to the failed strategies of the past, prioritizing American interests, cutting off foreign criminal influence, and defending the values that make this nation strong.