US President Donald Trump gave a clear and forceful message to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro during a recent phone call, telling him, “You can save yourself and those closest to you, but you must leave the country now,” according to the Miami Herald.

The report said that the United States offered safe passage to Maduro, his wife Cilia Flores, and their son if he agreed to step down immediately, and the offer was also said to cover several top allies, but Caracas refused the conditions, which caused the talks to fall apart.

On Sunday, Trump confirmed that he had spoken with Maduro but did not reveal details and told reporters, “I wouldn’t say it went well or badly.” His brief comment came after he warned that Venezuelan airspace should be treated as “closed in its entirety,” a warning that followed the failed call at a time when tensions were rising and when the United States had already sent major military assets to the Caribbean.

According to the Miami Herald, the call, which took place late in the week of November 16, lost momentum when Maduro asked for two major guarantees, which included global amnesty for himself and senior members of his circle and the right to keep control of Venezuela’s armed forces even if he allowed free elections.

The paper quoted a source familiar with the conversation saying, “First, Maduro asked for global amnesty for any crimes he and his group had committed, and that was rejected. Second, they asked to retain control of the armed forces … In return, they would allow free elections.” Washington reportedly dismissed both demands and insisted that Maduro must leave office at once, and although the Maduro government tried to set up another call, there was no response from Washington. A defence expert familiar with Venezuela’s military and cartel networks warned that Maduro and his close aides could now be facing their most serious threat.

After the talks collapsed, Trump increased pressure on Venezuela and warned that United States military operations “by land” could begin “very soon” and ordered aircraft to avoid Venezuelan airspace. A FlightRadar24 map later showed that no international planes were flying over the country as flights to Aruba and Curaçao took longer routes and major airlines suspended services after a Federal Aviation Administration warning about “heightened military activity.” Venezuela responded by cancelling the operating rights of several foreign airlines and accused Washington of “colonial aggression.”

United States politicians have defended the government’s approach. Senator Dave McCormick said on Fox News Sunday, “We have a war that’s coming through fentanyl, through opioids, through cocaine,” blaming Venezuela for adding to a drug crisis that “killed 100,000 Americans last year.” The administration has increased maritime strikes on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean. Critics termed these actions as extrajudicial. Congressional investigations are ongoing into an alleged “double tap” strike near Trinidad, which United States Secretary of War Pete Hegseth has denied ordering.