Former Fox News host Tucker Carlson said in an interview with Andrew Napolitano that a member of Congress told him lawmakers were briefed that President Trump would announce “a war is coming” during his national address Wednesday night. “Is Trump going to start a war in Venezuela?” Napolitano asked Carlson. “Here’s what I know so far, which is that members of Congress were briefed yesterday that a war is coming and it’ll be announced in the address to the nation tonight at nine o’clock by the president,” Carlson said. “Who knows, by the way, if that’ll actually happen. I don’t know, and I never want to overstate what I know, which is pretty limited in general,” he continued. Footage below: NEW: Tucker Carlson says a member of Congress told him that President Trump will be announcing tonight that "a war is coming" during his address. Judge Napolitano: "Is Trump going to start a war in Venezuela?" Carlson: "I don't know the answer … here's what I know so far,… pic.twitter.com/TI2n8gwk9T — Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) December 17, 2025 Mediaite shared further: Carlson is opposed to military action in Venezuela, arguing it would be repeating foreign policy mistakes of the past. “There’s not been a regime change effort that’s benefitted the United States or the world in 80 years that I’m aware of,” he said. Trump has repeatedly accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro of being at the head of a narco terrorist smuggling operation. Maduro’s election victory has long been contested, with U.S. and global officials casting doubt on the results. “The illegitimate Maduro Regime is using Oil from these stolen Oil Fields to finance themselves, Drug Terrorism, Human Trafficking, Murder, and Kidnapping. For the theft of our Assets, and many other reasons, including Terrorism, Drug Smuggling, and Human Trafficking, the Venezuelan Regime has been designated a FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION,” Trump announced this week. “Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America. It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before — Until such time as they return to the United States of America all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us,” Trump said on Truth Social. “Therefore, today, I am ordering A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela. The Illegal Aliens and Criminals that the Maduro Regime has sent into the United States during the weak and inept Biden Administration, are being returned to Venezuela at a rapid pace. America will not allow Criminals, Terrorists, or other Countries, to rob, threaten, or harm our Nation and, likewise, will not allow a Hostile Regime to take our Oil, Land, or any other Assets, all of which must be returned to the United States, IMMEDIATELY,” he added. More from NBC News: The U.S. has sanctioned three of Maduro’s nephews and repeatedly conducted deadly military strikes against boats from the Caribbean that it alleges are carrying drugs. Venezuela’s government released a statement Tuesday accusing Trump of “violating international law, free trade, and the principle of free navigation” with what it called “a reckless and grave threat.” It added: “On his social media, he assumes that Venezuela’s oil, land, and mineral wealth are his property.” The statement said of Trump’s post: “Consequently, he demands that Venezuela immediately hand over all its riches. The President of the United States intends to impose, in an utterly irrational manner, a supposed naval blockade on Venezuela with the aim of stealing the wealth that belongs to our nation.” Maduro’s government plans to denounce the situation before the United Nations, the statement said.