Trump Risks Long, Costly Turmoil if He Targets Maduro, Experts Warn. President Donald Trump says Nicolás Maduro’s days are numbered and has not ruled out land strikes in Venezuela, despite lacking large-scale military assets in the region. CNN reports Trump reviewed new military options as the U.S. moved over a dozen warships and 15,000 troops under Operation Southern Spear. Experts warn that removing Maduro could trigger chaos, including a military takeover or the rise of an even harsher Chavista successor. Maduro’s tight control over competing factions — including military and criminal networks — has kept Venezuela from fracturing into outright civil war. Former officials say the Venezuelan military would likely stay cohesive and assert control if Maduro were ousted, suppressing unrest rather than collapsing. Opposition groups, including Edmundo González’s faction, claim they have transition plans, but experts say they cannot govern safely without sustained U.S. security support. The U.S. still recognizes Edmundo González as Venezuela’s rightful leader and offers limited support to opposition figure María Corina Machado, who is in hiding.