Ro Khanna Slams Trump's Venezuela Policy as a Return to Gunboat Diplomacy Era

Rep. Ro Khanna criticized President Donald Trump's Venezuela policy, accusing the administration of resurrecting an imperialist diplomatic approach and betraying America's commitment to decolonization.

Khanna Calls Trump's Policy 'Gunboat Diplomacy'

On Saturday, Khanna posted on X, sharing a clip of his interview on MS NOW in which he criticized Trump's reported actions involving Venezuela and its oil reserves.

The California Democrat wrote: "Trump's foreign policy turns the clock back a hundred years, to an era of gunboat diplomacy where might makes right."

He added: "This is not only a strategic mistake, but also a moral one."

In the interview, Khanna said the situation was "heartbreaking" and argued that the U.S. was reverting to a foreign policy model that should have been abandoned long ago.

He said: "It's like we've turned the clock back a hundred years, to the era of gunboat diplomacy," citing U.S. actions in Guatemala, El Salvador, and Haiti.

He added: "Maintaining a colonial world model is wrong."

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Khanna Accuses Trump of Reversing Decolonization Progress

Khanna also referenced his grandfather, who he said was imprisoned twice during the struggle for India's independence from Britain.

He said: "I once believed the U.S. supported decolonization," citing the history of former President Franklin D. Roosevelt pushing British Prime Minister Winston Churchill toward decolonization.

Khanna said: "Trump is reversing all of that because he believes in a world where might makes right and you take what you can."

Trump's foreign policy turns the clock back a hundred years, to an era of gunboat diplomacy where might makes right.

This is not only a strategic mistake, but also a moral one.

— Ro Khanna, August 29, 2026

Trump Touts Venezuela Oil Deal

Trump said Friday that the U.S. had reached an agreement with Venezuela to gain majority control of more than 65 billion barrels of proven oil reserves.

He called it "the biggest oil deal in world history" and said it would not cost U.S. taxpayers a single cent.

Trump said the agreement would strengthen U.S.-Venezuela relations and could lower gasoline prices by expanding access to Venezuelan oil.

Trump Hints at Role in Venezuela

Venezuela had reportedly considered leaving the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, while the Trump administration explored acquiring stakes in roughly a dozen Venezuelan oil fields with nearly 90 million barrels of proven reserves.

The proposed deal could allow U.S. companies to develop these fields and increase Venezuela's oil revenue.

This follows interim leader Delcy Rodríguez thanking Trump for seeking cooperation, after Trump praised her leadership and said Venezuelan oil had begun to flow.