Expert says media strategy and psychological signaling behind Trump's action on Venezuela

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The timing of U.S. President Donald Trump's major actions is rarely accidental; it reflects a calculated blend of media strategy and psychological signaling, Sun Taiyi, associate professor of Political Science at Christopher Newport University in the United States, said in an interview with CGTN.

For instance, when Trump moved to announce a global tariff war in early 2025, he reportedly delayed the proclamation from April 1 to April 2, specifically to ensure his orders were not dismissed as an "April Fool's joke," Sun said.

Trump prioritizes absolute gravity in his directives, Sun said, as illustrated by the recent U.S. operations in Nigeria, which were intentionally scheduled for Christmas Day so they could be framed as a "Christmas gift" to local militants.

The timing of the Venezuela operation follows that same logic, Sun said.

By launching strikes just as the New Year holiday concludes, the administration avoids the holiday news lull and ensures the media cycle is fully primed to treat the event as the first major news headline of the year, Sun said.

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