Interior Secretary Doug Burgum dropped a bombshell this week that should have every American paying attention. According to Burgum’s remarks at the CERAWeek oil and energy conference in Houston, he revealed that Iranian-funded terror groups operating in Venezuela had the capability to launch intermediate-range ballistic missiles capable of hitting Washington, D.C., Houston, New York City, and Chicago.
Burgum explained that Iran’s recent missile strike on Diego Garcia—a U.S.-U.K. military base in the Indian Ocean located over 2,400 miles from Iran—demonstrated Tehran’s true capabilities, as he noted in his speech. That distance puts Houston roughly 2,200 miles away from Venezuela, well within striking distance, and our nation’s capital sits just over 2,000 miles away. And Miami, New York, possibly even Chicago—all within range of missiles placed in America’s backyard.
What stopped it? According to Burgum, President Trump’s decisive action on January 3rd launched a covert military operation that resulted in the arrest of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, effectively dismantling the threat before it could materialize. Burgum noted that Venezuela is no longer a serious missile threat and is now positioned to become a significant oil and energy partner for the United States. Remember when the foreign policy establishment mocked Trump’s focus on Venezuela, as critics often did in media reports?
How many times did we hear that Iran and Venezuela were not imminent threats to the homeland? Burgum also highlighted that during his recent trip to Venezuela with oil executives, interim President Delcy Rodríguez signaled readiness for U.S. investment in developing the country’s oil and gas reserves. The administration even secured $100 million in gold for U.S. refiners, based on Burgum’s account, because America showed strength rather than offering concessions.
The lesson here is clear: weakness invites aggression, and projecting strength prevents war, as Burgum emphasized. While the previous administration was busy negotiating with Tehran and downplaying the threat, Iranian missiles were getting closer to American soil. President Trump acted, and Americans are safer for it.
Providence watches over the bold.
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