Political activist and podcaster Nikki Free is sounding the alarm over the Trump administration’s aggressive actions in Venezuela.
She is arguing that recent U.S. policy mirrors tactics used by Vladimir Putin in Ukraine and could ultimately have negative consequences for the United States.
In a fiery Instagram post, Free — known for her direct commentary on politics and social issues — said Americans who condemn Putin’s invasion of Ukraine should apply that same moral scrutiny to how the U.S. has conducted itself in Venezuela under President Donald Trump.
She labelled sanctions and economic pressure as forms of “violence” and “economic warfare,” arguing that civilians suffer while political and economic elites remain insulated from harm.
“Sanctions are violence. Economic strangulation is warfare,” Free wrote. “And ‘failed state’ rhetoric is how empires justify domination.” She concluded her message with a stark warning: “Empires always get the bill.”
Free’s statements come as the Trump administration’s highly controversial intervention in Venezuela continues to reverberate internationally.
In early January 2026, U.S. military forces carried out a large-scale strike in Venezuela resulting in the reported capture of President Nicolás Maduro, an unprecedented move that has sparked debate at home and abroad. Critics have argued the operation — while framed by the White House as a law enforcement and anti-narcotics effort — constitutes unilateral military intervention with significant civilian and geopolitical consequences.
Observers say the U.S. action marks one of the most assertive foreign policy maneuvers in Latin America in decades, with Trump administration officials stating their intention to maintain influence over Venezuela’s political transition and oil resources. Some reports indicate that Washington may oversee aspects of Venezuela’s oil exports as part of its post-intervention strategy — a move that has raised concerns among policymakers and global analysts alike.
Free’s critique touches on broader conversations about military power, international law, and humanitarian impacts. She argues that U.S. policy has contributed to destabilization and that a strategy focused on dominance rather than diplomacy may undermine America’s moral standing and fuel humanitarian fallout that will ultimately affect global stability and migration patterns.
Her message resonates with growing protests and public debates within the United States, where some Americans have opposed the administration’s actions in Venezuela as overreach, urging a reassessment of foreign policy priorities.
Free is warning that strategies rooted in coercion — whether military, economic, or diplomatic — may carry long-term costs for both regional partners and the United States.
