Trump on global flashpoints: From Ukraine to Nigeria, Venezuela, and beyond

Aboard Air Force One and in a lengthy CBS 60 Minutes interview on November 2, US President Donald Trump touched on multiple global issues — from Ukraine’s access to long-range missiles and violence in Nigeria, to nuclear testing, the global chip race, and even a potential White House visit by Syria’s president. 

On Ukraine

President Trump said he is not currently considering a deal to allow Ukraine to obtain long-range Tomahawk missiles for use against Russia.

“No, not really,” Trump told reporters as he flew to Washington from Palm Beach, Florida, when asked whether he was considering such a deal, Caliber.Az reports via Reuters.

He added, however, that he could change his mind. Trump has been cool to a proposal for the US to sell Tomahawks to NATO nations that could transfer them to Ukraine, emphasising that he does not want to escalate the war.

The president also dismissed the idea of using frozen Russian assets as leverage in negotiations, distancing himself from ongoing discussions between Europe and Russia.

“There’s no final straw. Sometimes you have to let it fight out. And they’re fighting and they’re fighting it out,” he said when asked what would prove that Russia is not ready to end the war with Ukraine.

On Nigeria

Trump said the US military could deploy troops or carry out air strikes in Nigeria to stop what he called the killing of “large numbers of Christians” in the country.

“Could be. I mean, other things. I envisage a lot of things. They’re killing record numbers of Christians in Nigeria ... They’re killing the Christians and killing them in very large numbers. We’re not going to allow that to happen,” Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One.

On Venezuela

In his CBS interview, Trump declined to discuss whether the US was planning land strikes in Venezuela.

“I wouldn’t be inclined to say that I would do that,” he said. “Because I don’t talk to a reporter about whether or not I’m going to strike.”

Asked whether the US was going to war against Venezuela, he replied:

“I doubt it. I don’t think so.”

However, when asked if Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s days in power were numbered, Trump said:

“I would say yeah. I think so, yeah.”

More than 15 recent US strikes on boats in the Caribbean and Pacific have reportedly killed at least 65 people, prompting criticism from regional governments. Washington has not yet provided evidence that the targeted vessels were smuggling narcotics or posed threats to the US.

On Hamas disarmament

When asked how he could compel Hamas to disarm, the president gave a blunt response:

“If I want them to disarm, I’ll get them to disarm very quickly. They’ll be eliminated.”

On Palestinian statehood

During the 60 Minutes interview, Trump was asked whether he could push Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to recognise a Palestinian state after reportedly urging him to apologise to Qatar and agree to a Gaza ceasefire.

Trump avoided a direct answer, praising Netanyahu instead:

“That’s the kind of person you needed in Israel at the time,” he said, adding that Netanyahu is being treated unfairly by being brought to trial.

“I had to push him a little bit one way or the other. I did a great job in pushing,” Trump added. “Netanyahu’s a very talented guy… [who has] never been pushed before.”

“I didn’t like certain things that he did, and you saw what I did about that,” he concluded.

On nuclear testing

Trump claimed that countries including Russia and China have conducted secret underground nuclear tests and suggested that the US might resume testing as well.

“Russia’s testing, and China’s testing, but they don’t talk about it,” he told 60 Minutes. “I don’t want to be the only country that doesn’t test,” he said, naming North Korea and Pakistan as other nations allegedly engaged in such activities.

On microchips and high-tech industry

Trump credited his tariff policies for prompting Taiwanese companies to move microchip production to the US, expressing confidence that the country will soon dominate the global chip market.

“The most advanced, we will not let anybody have them other than the United States,” he told CBS.

Trump said the USshould prioritise high-tech industries like artificial intelligence and microchips while outsourcing low-value manufacturing.

On Ahmed al-Sharaa's visit

Trump said he is considering welcoming Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to the White House “for a transitional period.”

“He might come,” the president said, noting that US authorities had lifted sanctions on Syria to give the country “a chance to survive.”

Trump praised al-Sharaa’s leadership, saying he is “doing an excellent job.”

The comments came after Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani announced that al-Sharaa was planning an official visit to the US in early November.

By Sabina Mammadli