B-52. Video screenshot

 

In a bold power play, US President Donald Trump has deployed three B-52 bombers off the coast of Venezuela. The bombers, which launched from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, are believed to have been intended as a strong message amidst increasing tensions with Venezuela. The administration has recently taken steps to tackle issues of migration and drug trafficking associated with Venezuela, which coincides with this significant military manoeuvre.

 

The B-52 bomber is renowned for its long-range capabilities and heavy payload, often used in both conventional and nuclear contexts. Trump's actions come as the US grapples with a surge of migrants and drugs believed to be originating from Venezuela. There are indications of possible land strikes, as Trump has hinted at new strategies in his administration’s continuing "war" on drug cartels.

 

Trump has expressed his commitment to managing maritime routes effectively. This move follows a video shared by Trump and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, showcasing a strike on a Venezuelan vessel alleged to have been involved in drug trafficking. Since early September, Trump ordered military strikes on several boats in the Caribbean, actions that have sparked legal debates given their unprecedented nature.

 

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• US sends B-52 bombers near Venezuela amid rising tensions.
• Trump suggests possible future land actions against drug cartels.
• Legal questions arise from military strikes on alleged drug boats.

Related Story:

Trump Confirms Covert CIA Operations in Venezuela

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from ABC News 2025-10-17

 

 

That’s expensive lol going after outboard motor boats with B25s ??what a farce!

Just release the Epstein files already.

 

 

If they're in Venezuelan air space, Venezuela should shoot them down!

21 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

If they're in Venezuelan air space, Venezuela should shoot them down!

Of course that would be an adaption on what happened in the Gulf of Tonkin that led to big time escalation. US destroyer was in N Vietnamese waters (not admitted til years later) so NV gun boat attacked... 'unprovoked' US said & got resolution giving LBJ a blank check to go to war big time. 

More Nobel Peace Prize material. 🤦

He's spending OUR money like crazy with his silly private (and very expensive) ICE army and unprovoked military actions at home and abroad. It's almost as it he really doesn't prioritize lowering the deficit... hmm. 🧐

36 minutes ago, Galong said:

More Nobel Peace Prize material. 🤦

He's spending OUR money like crazy with his silly private (and very expensive) ICE army and unprovoked military actions at home and abroad. It's almost as it he really doesn't prioritize lowering the deficit... hmm. 🧐

So you approve of Americans having access to use Fentanyl whenever they desire?  

 

Remember ICE is only doing the same exact job most countries do when individuals enter a country unlawfully.

 

Lowering the deficit.  Seems every politician talks about it but when it comes down to voting they vote to cut something and jam another item to spend money in the same bill back on page 79.

Maybe we should talk about it for another 10 or 20 years.  Maybe a little theatrical action here or there to appease voters.

 

Like him or not one thing about the guy is he will try to get things down quickly.

 

Blaming him for the most corrupt and flawed political system I've seen instead of a flawed system that picks the two finalist for you, leaving you to vote for what appears to be the best candidate from their months and months of sales pitches hardly has the countries best interest in mind 

In the epitome of hypocritical, the people most vehemently condemning "Putin's invasion of Ukraine," are cheering on Trump's planned invasion of Venezuela.  This is nothing but a typical Monroe Doctrine, post-colonialism Oil Grab as Venezuela has some of the largest oil reserves in the world.

27 minutes ago, J Branche said:

So you approve of Americans having access to use Fentanyl whenever they desire?  

The trope that Venezuela is sending fentanyl to the US is propaganda to get the American public and Trump's low-information base excited about invading Venezuela.  Those boats that the US military is blowing up have a range of 250 to 300 miles.  The US is ~1500 miles away at its closest point in the Florida keys.  

The fentanyl precursors are sent to cartels in Mexico and fentanyl is literally lobbed over the border fence.  Unlike coke you're talking pounds being trafficked, not tons. 

Trump - The Peace President -  is creating a casus belli to invade Venezuela to corner the global oil market.

22 minutes ago, J Branche said:

So you approve of Americans having access to use Fentanyl whenever they desire?  

 

Remember ICE is only doing the same exact job most countries do when individuals enter a country unlawfully.

 

Lowering the deficit.  Seems every politician talks about it but when it comes down to voting they vote to cut something and jam another item to spend money in the same bill back on page 79.

Oh boy, this reply is a dumpster fire of bad arguments.
 

First, your correspondent initiates a classic Red Herring distraction: the bizarre leap from criticizing budget-busting B-52s to whether you "approve of Fentanyl use." That's not a counter-argument; it's a desperate attempt to swap your fiscal criticism for a low-effort moral panic.

Second, your defense of ICE would be fine, if it didn't stink of being a very expensive, silly private army of masked goons who are seemingly not focused on illegal immigrants, but notably of anyone who is of a certain pigmentation. You defend the agency's mission instead of addressing the massive, unaccounted-for spending... not to mention the methodology:  masked men, no ID, no due process, no accountability. I'm 100% behind deporting illegal immigrants in a manner befitting of the self-proclaimed greatest country on earth. ICE makes us look the opposite.
 

Most hilariously, you attempt to normalize deficit spending as "what all politicians do," which is pure political amnesia. Trump explicitly campaigned on eliminating the entire national debt. Every high-spending, non-standard action, from those costly B-52s to the privatized border enforcement, is an immediate, direct, and objectively verifiable betrayal of his one core fiscal promise. The argument is both logically flawed and politically illiterate.  Thank you for your attention to the matter. 🙏

14 minutes ago, Galong said:

Most hilariously, you attempt to normalize deficit spending as "what all politicians do," which is pure political amnesia. Trump explicitly campaigned on eliminating the entire national debt.

Almost every president in past 30 years has campaigned on reducing the National Debt but mostly "Failed" Wars, Defense spending, reducing taxes but not spending, entitlements, Covid, financial crisis all have contributed to National Debt.  

 

We both may have distorted perspectives of reality and biases but the reality of past presidents performance is easily searched now with Chatgpt, Gemini, and Grok

Venezuela, go live in Columbia, Ecuador, Peru and look at the dead bodies along the Darien Gap of Venezuelans who have Zero hope and maybe you would be enlightened that they want help and change but the current leadership is very serious about dissent.

 

Many of attempts have been made by small groups and ALL have failed.  Maybe your in the camp that he only has about 15 years left before old age takes him but Venezuelans will tell you they have suffered enough already.

8 minutes ago, J Branche said:

Almost every president in past 30 years has campaigned on reducing the National Debt but mostly "Failed" Wars, Defense spending, reducing taxes but not spending, entitlements, Covid, financial crisis all have contributed to National Debt.  

 

We both may have distorted perspectives of reality and biases but the reality of past presidents performance is easily searched now with Chatgpt, Gemini, and Grok

Sure, every president talks about cutting the debt, but Trump isn’t talking anymore, he’s doing, and by “doing” I mean lighting the national credit card on fire while bragging he deserves a Nobel Peace Prize for not starting WWIII... yet. Scale matters: he’s not competing with history, he’s rewriting it in bold, unpaid invoices.  Oh wait, the tariffs that other governments pay will cover this.  What was I thinking? 🤦

1 hour ago, J Branche said:

So you approve of Americans having access to use Fentanyl whenever they desire?  

How Doctor-Prescribed Pills Created America's Deadly Opioid Crisis | GovFacts

 

Drug Companies’ Liability for the Opioid Epidemic - PMC

 

Perhaps their doctors shouldn't have prescribed them in the first place.  Oh, I forgot, they made good commissions from the suppliers!

15 minutes ago, animalmagic said:

How Doctor-Prescribed Pills Created America's Deadly Opioid Crisis | GovFacts

 

Drug Companies’ Liability for the Opioid Epidemic - PMC

 

Perhaps their doctors shouldn't have prescribed them in the first place.  Oh, I forgot, they made good commissions from the suppliers!

The Sackler family didn’t just start the opioid epidemic — they branded it, complete with glossy brochures, junk science, and a sales pitch smoother than a Wall Street bailout. Their company, Purdue Pharma, pushed OxyContin like it was aspirin, assuring doctors it was “non-addictive” while the country quietly drowned in pills.

And despite causing more American deaths than most wars, the Sacklers didn’t face drone strikes, SWAT raids, or a new militarized agency to “protect freedom.” No, they got art museums named after them and a slap-on-the-wrist settlement.
 

Turns out, you don’t need tanks or ICE to destroy America — just good PR, political donations, and a family crest embossed on a bottle of lies.

On 10/17/2025 at 7:04 AM, Tug said:

That’s expensive lol going after outboard motor boats with B25s ??what a farce!

B52's are best known for "carpet bombing" land based military targets.

Air strikes against small boats typically done by helicopter, otherwise by naval boats.

 

2 hours ago, Galong said:

More Nobel Peace Prize material. 🤦

He's spending OUR money like crazy with his silly private (and very expensive) ICE army and unprovoked military actions at home and abroad. It's almost as it he really doesn't prioritize lowering the deficit... hmm. 🧐

Unfortunately US citizens voted (or didn't vote at all) which has allowed Trump into power.

 

It is up to the US citizens only to sort the problem out.

On 10/17/2025 at 7:04 AM, Tug said:

That’s expensive lol going after outboard motor boats with B25s ??what a farce!

A B25 would be cheaper than a B52!  Sorry, probably a typo on your part.

British Royal Marines do it cheaper and safer.  1 x .50 sniper round into the engine allowing law enforcement to arrest the smugglers and seize the evidence.

3 minutes ago, animalmagic said:

A B25 would be cheaper than a B52!  Sorry, probably a typo on your part.

British Royal Marines do it cheaper and safer.  1 x .50 sniper round into the engine allowing law enforcement to arrest the smugglers and seize the evidence.

 

But a B52 leaves no evidence if the attack was warranted for or not

I love the keyboard warriors sometimes.  Lived in Ecuador for years.  Venezuelans have left their home country many many years ago seeking a job were they can earn a living.

Inflation, Venezuela had the most drastic inflation increase of any country in history.  Yet to meet someone who supported the President of Venezuela.  

 

I don't want war but sometimes you need to help people who are not capable of enacting change.  

 

Don't care if you agree. Many have been wrong before you and many will be wrong after 

6 hours ago, J Branche said:

So you approve of Americans having access to use Fentanyl whenever they desire?  

 

Remember ICE is only doing the same exact job most countries do when individuals enter a country unlawfully.

 

Lowering the deficit.  Seems every politician talks about it but when it comes down to voting they vote to cut something and jam another item to spend money in the same bill back on page 79.

Venezuela (as Columbia) produces coke, not fentanyl.

20 hours ago, billd766 said:

Unfortunately US citizens voted (or didn't vote at all) which has allowed Trump into power.

 

It is up to the US citizens only to sort the problem out.

It seems as though a lot of people in Chicago are not too Happy with Trump.

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c93xgyp1zv4o

On 10/17/2025 at 10:02 PM, connda said:

The trope that Venezuela is sending fentanyl to the US is propaganda to get the American public and Trump's low-information base excited about invading Venezuela.  Those boats that the US military is blowing up have a range of 250 to 300 miles.  The US is ~1500 miles away at its closest point in the Florida keys.  

The fentanyl precursors are sent to cartels in Mexico and fentanyl is literally lobbed over the border fence.  Unlike coke you're talking pounds being trafficked, not tons. 

Trump - The Peace President -  is creating a casus belli to invade Venezuela to corner the global oil market.

I agree he wants to steal their oil no doubt about it.this fentanyl theater is the hook to snooker the marks no doubt about it.I still do find it amusing the thought of hunting high speed skiffs with B52s lmao 😂 what a pathetic farce of a president….its humiliating sad 😞 

52 minutes ago, Tug said:

I agree he wants to steal their oil no doubt about it.this fentanyl theater is the hook to snooker the marks no doubt about it.I still do find it amusing the thought of hunting high speed skiffs with B52s lmao 😂 what a pathetic farce of a president….its humiliating sad 😞 

The really sad part, is that despite all the threats from Trump and his bootlickers, is that the generals and the US military are going along with it.

15 hours ago, billd766 said:

The really sad part, is that despite all the threats from Trump and his bootlickers, is that the generals and the US military are going along with it.

Actually you are mistaken the commander in charge resigned over concerns about the legitimacy of the strikes.

On 10/18/2025 at 1:04 PM, Srikcir said:

B52's are best known for "carpet bombing" land based military targets.

Air strikes against small boats typically done by helicopter, otherwise by naval boats.

 

I'd just leave it at "carpet bombing".

On 10/17/2025 at 6:36 AM, webfact said:

The B-52 bomber is renowned for its long-range capabilities and heavy payload, often used in both conventional and nuclear contexts. 

Arguably its greatest "contribution" are the ongoing contacts for maintenance and upgrading enjoyed by Boeing and various others in the "military industrial" world.

 

As an "act of war", against any opponent with an effective air defence system it is hopelessly vulnerable, and against speed boats is a tad over the top!

4 hours ago, Tug said:

Actually you are mistaken the commander in charge resigned over concerns about the legitimacy of the strikes.

Thank you.

 

I had not realised that

3 hours ago, JAG said:

Arguably its greatest "contribution" are the ongoing contacts for maintenance and upgrading enjoyed by Boeing and various others in the "military industrial" world.

 

As an "act of war", against any opponent with an effective air defence system it is hopelessly vulnerable, and against speed boats is a tad over the top!

A single B52 consumes on average 3,300 US gallons of fuel per hour.

 

As the nearest point to Venezuela from the USA is over 1,500 miles away and a minimum of 3 hours flying time for a B52,it means that the B52 will consume perhaps 10,000 US gallons just to get to its search zone.

 

The B52 holds almost 48,000 US gallons, so 40% of the fuel is consumed just to get there and back, given that it will be loitering in the area, the fuel consumption will be less, perhaps as low as 2,000 US gallons per hour, giving it a time over the area a maximum of 8 hours before it has to return.

 

So IMO there will need to be a replacement B52 sent out to cover the area for the rest of the daylight hours, and a 3rd prepped as an on the line standby in case of a problem with either of the first 2.

 

That is a hell of an expensive way just to sink a small boat, that may or may not be there.

 

Especially as the B52 is no longer manufactured and 14 airframe hours per aircraft per day, plus the fuel cost, will cost the USAF a lot in extra expenses over a period of time.