Venezuelans Loot Stores!

As tensions between Washington and Caracas gradually take on new dimensions, reports indicate rising fear among Venezuelans and their rush to stores in response to an imminent U.S. strike on the country.

According to Fararu, on Saturday, Trump’s announcement of the closure of Venezuelan airspace sparked widespread reactions inside and outside the country.

Trump: Consider Venezuelan airspace closed

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that the airspace over and around Venezuela must be considered fully closed.

According to Reuters, Trump wrote in a post on the social network Truth Social: “To all airlines, pilots, drug dealers, and human traffickers, please consider the airspace over and around Venezuela as fully closed.”

Following this post, many were shocked and surprised. Reuters reported that when the news agency contacted U.S. officials, they expressed astonishment at Trump’s statement and denied any knowledge of a U.S. military operation to shut down Venezuela’s airspace.

The Pentagon did not respond to Reuters’ request for comment, and the White House offered no further explanation.

Public fear and rush to supermarkets

However, this sudden remark by Trump, which came after months of military buildup and scattered reports suggesting U.S. intentions to launch a military attack on Venezuela, exacerbated public concern and prompted people to storm supermarkets out of fear.

In this regard, The Washington Post wrote in a report: “Venezuelans caught between President Donald Trump’s threats on one side and a government they do not trust on the other now live moment by moment, unsure of what future awaits them.”

The report continued: “U.S. fighter jets escorted a strategic bomber to the vicinity of Venezuela’s coast, and state media in the country aired footage of soldiers firing into the sky. A supermarket in eastern Caracas, the capital, was packed with people rushing to grab essential supplies from the shelves.”

The Washington Post further quoted a Venezuelan citizen who requested anonymity as saying: “By Wednesday, it had again started to feel like a normal country. The Maduro government is a master of manipulating emotions and downplaying any credible threat that could lead to its downfall.” This concerned citizen added: “This uncertainty is killing me.”

New York Times: Venezuelans are looting stores

This alarming situation—public fear and mass rushes to supermarkets—has been reflected in foreign media for months. In late June, The New York Times published a report titled “As Hunger Engulfs the Nation, Venezuelans Loot Stores,” describing the worsening economic crisis: because food trucks are constantly attacked, food shipments are now escorted by the military.

According to the report, soldiers monitor bakeries, and police fire rubber bullets at desperate crowds storming grocery stores, pharmacies, and butcher shops. A four-year-old girl was even shot dead amid clashes between street groups over food.

CNN: Trump has intensified efforts to remove Maduro

On the other side of the issue, CNN reported that Trump’s announcement declaring Venezuelan airspace closed is part of efforts to pressure President Nicolás Maduro to step down.

In a report titled “Trump Maintains Pressure Campaign on Venezuela, Says Airspace Must Be Considered Closed,” CNN wrote that the United States continued its pressure campaign on Saturday, when Trump issued broad instructions on social media directing airlines, pilots, and criminal networks to avoid Venezuelan airspace.

According to CNN, this announcement marks the latest twist in U.S.–Venezuela relations, at a time when the Trump administration is intensifying efforts to force President Nicolás Maduro to relinquish power.

While the Trump administration officially claims it seeks to curb illegal migration and drug trafficking, “regime change” is considered a possible outcome of these efforts.