Stephen Miller, who currently holds the position of White House chief of staff for policy under President Donald Trump, has been vocal in articulating a perspective that informs recent U.S. actions in Venezuela. Prior to the American military operation that led to the removal of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, Miller contended that Maduro had been sending gang members into the United States. He posed a rhetorical question during the concluding phase of Trumps 2024 campaign: "If youre a dictator of a poor country with a high crime rate, wouldnt you send your criminals to our open border?" This statement encapsulates Millers confrontational style and zero-sum worldview, which has sparked debate within and beyond the current administration.
A joint communiqué issued by Spain alongside five Latin American countries in response to the U.S. operation in Venezuela called on nations within the region to engage in mutual respect, resolve disputes peacefully, and refrain from intervention, underscoring regional concerns about sovereignty and external influence. Meanwhile, U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders characterized the Trump administration's Venezuela policy as "old-fashioned imperialism," further highlighting the contentious nature of the approach.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson defended the administration's stance, asserting that advocating for policies that prioritize American citizens is not racist, and suggested that contrary claims reflect either intentional misinformation or misunderstanding.
Miller's rhetoric has extended to framing historical Western aid to developing nations as a form of "reverse colonization." Shortly after the military action in Venezuela, Miller posted on social media that following World War II, Western powers dismantled their empires and began extensive aid efforts to former colonies. He characterized this aid, combined with open borders and social welfare benefits, as a self-punishing experiment by nations that had built the modern world, asserting it conferred preferential legal and financial treatment to newcomers over native citizens.
Regarding Venezuela's oil resources, Miller echoed prior assertions by Trump, stating that American ingenuity and labor established Venezuela's oil industry, which was then expropriated by Maduro. He described this expropriation as the largest recorded theft of American wealth and property, with the misappropriated assets allegedly funding terrorism and trafficking that negatively impacts U.S. communities.
In January, Miller elaborated on the administration's leverage over Venezuela, claiming that the United States' military presence and oil embargo compel compliance from Caracas. He said the Venezuelan government requires U.S. permission to engage in commerce and highlighted an ongoing American military operation in the region that he said ensures American terms are enforced. Miller asserted that this cooperation would result in increased wealth for the Venezuelan people and economic, security, and counterterrorism benefits for the United States.
During a comprehensive interview with CNN's Jake Tapper, Miller articulated a worldview that prioritizes power and strength as fundamental to international relations, dismissing concerns about diplomatic niceties. He downplayed the possibility of military conflict with European allies over strategic interests such as Greenland, asserting that no nation would militarily challenge the United States in this context.
When discussing Venezuela's political future, Miller rejected the feasibility of U.S. support for opposition leaders like María Corina Machado due to anticipated opposition from the Venezuelan military. He emphasized that the United States, under President Trump, would assert its superpower status unapologetically to secure national interests and prevent adversaries from exploiting Venezuela's resources or positioning the country as a threat to U.S. security.
Miller contrasted this approach with previous U.S. efforts to build democracies abroad, framing historical foreign policy as misguided apologizing and reparations that diminished American strength. He defended the use of military operations in the Western Hemisphere to protect American interests and reiterated concerns about criminal elements being sent into the United States from regimes like Maduro's.
Domestically, Miller has maintained his promotion of the administration's immigration policies. In response to nationwide protests following an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer's fatal shooting in Minnesota, Miller asserted that Americans overwhelmingly support mass deportation and criticized Democrats and their activists for resisting federal law enforcement and fostering violence. He further warned that Democratic leadership would transform cities into unstable environments comparable to conflict zones abroad.