STORY: Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro on Wednesday (December 3) confirmed he held a "respectful and cordial" phone call with U.S. President Donald Trump about 10 days ago, framing the conversation as a potential opening for diplomacy.

"If this call means steps are being taken toward a respectful dialog between our countries, then dialog is welcome, diplomacy is welcome," Maduro said during a televised event.

Reuters reported on Monday, citing four sources familiar with the call, that Maduro told Trump he was willing to leave Venezuela if he and his family received full legal amnesty, including the removal of U.S. sanctions and the end of a flagship case before the International Criminal Court.

The call follows months of U.S. pressure on Venezuela, including strikes against alleged drug-smuggling boats, threats of military action, and the designation of Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist group.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: SOUNDBITES FROM VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT, NICOLAS MADURO, DISCUSSING CALL WITH U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE, THE EDIT IS RE-FILED REPLACING BITE 3 WITH BETTER-QUALITY FOOTAGE.

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: PETARE, MIRANDA STATE, VENEZUELA (DECEMBER 3, 2025) (VTV – Access all)

1. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT, NICOLAS MADURO, SAYING:

"Look, indeed, some 10 days ago, the White House called the Miraflores Palace and I had a phone call with President Donald Trump. The world media has spoken about this. I learned after 6 years as Foreign Minister about diplomatic prudence and after that, in these years as president, following my maestro, Commander (former president Hugo) Chavez, I value prudence; I don't like microphone diplomacy. When there are important things, they must be kept quiet until they're done."

2. WHITE FLASH

3. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT, NICOLAS MADURO, SAYING (SOUNDBITE RUNS OVER SHOTS OF ATTENDEES APPLAUDING):

"I received a phone call and spoke with President Donald Trump, I can say that the conversation was in a respectful tone, and I can even say it was cordial between the U.S. president and the president of Venezuela. I add that if this call means there are steps towards a respectful dialogue between states, between countries, then welcome dialogue, welcome diplomacy, because we will always seek peace. (In English) Welcome diplomats, welcome peace, peace yes, war never, never in the like."

4. WHITE FLASH

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) VENEZUELAN PRESIDENT, NICOLAS MADURO, SAYING:

"The U.S., all its people and youth, are tired of eternal wars. They have marks in their collective psychology: Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya. And the people of the U.S. (in English) the people of the United States say no more Afghanistan, no more Vietnam, no more Libya, no more Iraq."