Trump Administration Doubles Bounty on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro

The Trump administration has escalated its pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by doubling the reward for his arrest to an unprecedented $50 million, making it one of the highest bounties ever placed on a world leader by the United States government.

The Accusations: Narco-Terrorism and Drug Trafficking

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the increased reward in a video statement Thursday, describing Maduro as “one of the world’s largest narco-traffickers” and accusing him of collaborating with cartels to flood American streets with fentanyl-laced cocaine.

“Under President Trump’s leadership, Maduro will not escape justice and he will be held accountable for his despicable crimes,” Bondi declared in her announcement.

The Venezuelan leader faces serious federal charges including narco-terrorism and conspiracy to import cocaine, stemming from a 2020 Manhattan federal court indictment during Trump’s first presidency. At that time, several of Maduro’s close allies were also charged alongside him.

A History of Escalating Rewards

The bounty on Maduro has grown significantly over the years:

2020: Initial reward of $15 million during the first Trump administration
Biden Era: Increased to $25 million (matching the historic reward for Osama bin Laden after 9/11)
2025: Now doubled to $50 million under the current Trump administration

Despite these substantial incentives, Maduro has remained firmly in power, defying not only the United States but also the European Union and multiple Latin American governments who condemned his 2024 reelection as fraudulent.

The Justice Department’s Evidence

According to Bondi, the U.S. government has already taken significant action against Maduro’s alleged criminal network:

Seized over $700 million in assets linked to the Venezuelan president
Confiscated two private jets belonging to Maduro’s circle
Traced nearly 7 tons of seized cocaine directly to the leftist leader

These seizures represent one of the largest asset forfeitures connected to an active head of state in recent memory.

Complex U.S.-Venezuela Relations

The relationship between Washington and Caracas remains complicated despite the criminal charges. Recent developments include:

Prisoner Exchange: Last month, the Trump administration negotiated the release of 10 Americans detained in Caracas. In exchange, Venezuela received scores of migrants who had been deported by the United States to El Salvador under the current immigration crackdown.

Oil Industry Relations: Shortly after the prisoner swap, the White House reversed previous sanctions, allowing U.S. oil giant Chevron to resume drilling operations in Venezuela.

Venezuela Fires Back

Venezuelan Foreign Minister Yvan Gil didn’t hold back in his response to the increased bounty, calling it “pathetic” and dismissing it as a “crude political propaganda operation.”

Gil’s statement took personal aim at Attorney General Bondi, referencing recent controversies surrounding her tenure, including the Justice Department’s announcement that Jeffrey Epstein’s rumored “client list” doesn’t exist.

“Her show is a joke, a desperate distraction from her own misery,” Gil said in his sharply worded response.

What This Means Moving Forward

The $50 million reward represents the Trump administration’s most aggressive move yet against Maduro, signaling that despite ongoing diplomatic and economic exchanges, the U.S. remains committed to pursuing criminal charges against the Venezuelan leader.

However, with Maduro still firmly entrenched in power and backed by allies like Russia and China, it remains unclear whether the increased bounty will have any practical effect on his position or lead to his eventual arrest.

The situation continues to highlight the complex balance the United States must strike between pursuing justice for alleged crimes and maintaining channels for diplomatic engagement on issues like prisoner exchanges and regional stability.

As this story develops, it will be worth watching whether other international partners join the U.S. in increasing pressure on Maduro’s government, or if Venezuela’s allies will respond with countermeasures of their own.