Gemini says: From the vantage point of January 5, 2026, asking what Trump might do “next” feels a bit like asking what happens after a hurricane makes landfall—the storm is already here.
Following the capture of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela this past weekend (January 3), the definition of “wild” has shifted significantly. That operation—flying a foreign head of state to New York to face narcoterrorism charges—has effectively broken the seal on direct interventionism in his second term.
Here are the specific “wild” moves political analysts and recent intelligence suggest might be next on the agenda for 2026:
1. Direct Occupation of Venezuela (“Running the Country”)
The immediate “next” thing is already being telegraphed. In his Saturday press briefing, Trump explicitly stated the U.S. is “going to run the country now” regarding Venezuela.
The Scenario: This goes beyond a surgical strike. Analysts are watching for a long-term, quasi-colonial occupation where the U.S. essentially installs a governing authority, bypassing local opposition leaders if they don’t align perfectly with U.S. interests.
The Risk: This could inadvertently trigger a “spheres of influence” standoff, signaling to Russia and China that territorial sovereignty is now officially optional, potentially accelerating conflicts in Taiwan or Eastern Europe.
2. The “Blue State” Funding Freeze
We are seeing a new precedent in domestic policy that could rapidly expand. Trump recently vetoed water infrastructure funding for Colorado counties that voted against him (or where local officials clashed with him).
The Next Move: Expect this to scale up. There is speculation he could weaponize federal disaster relief or highway funds against entire states (like California or New York) to force compliance on immigration or voting laws. It transforms federal funding from a bureaucratic norm into a transaction of loyalty.
3. Federalizing the 2026 Midterms
With the midterm elections coming up later this year, the administration’s focus is pivoting to “securing” the result.
The “Show Your Papers” Order: There are strong rumors of an executive action that would require proof of citizenship (passport/birth certificate) for all federal voter registration. Since millions of Americans don’t have these handy, this would cause chaos.
Martial Presence: The deployment of the National Guard to “assist” ICE in cities like Los Angeles has set a precedent. The “wild” prediction here is the deployment of uniformed federal agents or National Guard troops to “monitor” polling places in Democratic strongholds under the guise of preventing fraud.
4. The AI “Preemption” War
Starting January 10, 2026, a new DOJ task force is scheduled to begin challenging state-level AI regulations.
The Move: The administration is expected to aggressively sue states that try to regulate AI bias or safety, effectively creating a deregulated “wild west” for AI development to favor American tech dominance over safety concerns. This aligns with his “America First” AI framework which prioritizes speed and capability over the “woke” safety guardrails he campaigned against.
5. Constitutional Showdowns
If the Supreme Court strikes down his use of IEEPA (emergency powers) to impose tariffs—a decision expected soon—Trump is predicted to simply “double down” using different, more obscure statutes (like Section 301 or 122 of the Trade Act of 1974) to maintain or increase tariffs, effectively daring the Court to stop him again.
The “wild” thing isn’t just one event anymore; it is the normalization of unilateral force—whether that’s snatching a foreign dictator, withholding water from a Colorado county, or sending the National Guard to domestic cities. The guardrails of the first term (military pushback, bureaucratic inertia) appear to be largely gone in 2026.
