A report based on open-source intelligence claiming a US Air Force B-1B Lancer bomber conducted a “show of force” mission near Venezuelan airspace has been flatly denied by former President Donald Trump, creating a clash between online data analysis and a former commander-in-chief’s word.
The controversy began after flight tracking data, analyzed by open-source intelligence (OSINT) observers, suggested a US strategic bomber flew a mission over the Caribbean Sea, closely skirting the coast of Venezuela. If true, the flight would have represented a significant military signal during a period of high tension between the two nations.
What Did the Report Allege?
The unconfirmed report, based on publicly available flight data, points to a mission that allegedly occurred during the Trump administration. The aircraft involved, the B-1B Lancer, is a supersonic heavy-payload bomber, a key asset in the US strategic arsenal and a powerful symbol of American military projection.
Deploying a B-1B bomber so close to a hostile nation like Venezuela would have been interpreted as a deliberate message. During this period, the Trump administration was pursuing a “maximum pressure” campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, using heavy economic sanctions and recognizing opposition leader Juan Guaidó as the country’s legitimate president. Such a flight would have served as a military warning to both Maduro’s government and its international allies, particularly Russia and China.
Trump’s Swift and Blunt Denial
The individual at the center of the timeline, former President Donald Trump, swiftly rejected the claim. In a direct statement posted on his Truth Social platform, Trump left no room for interpretation.
“This is False, it never happened!” he wrote, dismissing the report as misinformation.
This unequivocal denial pits the conclusions of OSINT analysts against the official account of the former president, leaving the public to weigh the credibility of data-driven speculation against a direct statement.
The Geopolitical Context: US-Venezuela Tensions
Relations between the United States and Venezuela have been hostile for years. Washington has consistently accused the Maduro regime of corruption, severe human rights violations, and the dismantling of democratic institutions. In response, Caracas accuses the US of imperialism and waging an economic war against its people.
Venezuela has also deepened its military and economic ties with US adversaries. The presence of Russian military advisors and significant Chinese investment has turned the nation into a flashpoint for great power competition in the Western Hemisphere. A US bomber flight, as alleged in the report, would not only target Venezuela but also signal to Moscow and Beijing that the US is prepared to defend its sphere of influence.
Without official confirmation from the Pentagon, which rarely comments on the operational details of sensitive missions, the truth remains unclear. This incident highlights the growing influence of open-source intelligence in tracking military activity, but also underscores the risk of drawing conclusions from incomplete data. For now, the alleged flight of the B-1B bomber near Venezuela remains an unverified claim, a potent reminder of the simmering tensions in the Caribbean.
