The President's Daily Brief - April 3rd, 2026: Trump Threatens NATO Over Iran Conflict & U.S. Commandos In Ecuador

Episode Date: April 3, 2026

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: First up—the war with Iran is exposing a growing rift inside NATO, as President Trump pressures allies to step up—or risk a major break in the alliance itself.  Later in the show—U.S. commandos join Ecuadorian forces in a mission targeting alleged narco-terrorists along the country’s coast. Plus—the Trump administration lifts sanctions on Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodríguez, signaling a shift in U.S. policy. And in today’s Back of the Brief—another shakeup in Washington, as President Trump removes Attorney General Pam Bondi from her post. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President’s Daily Brief by visiting https://PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief.  YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief Superpower: Stop guessing about your health—get $20 off Superpower at https://superpower.com/pdb with code PDB. Ethos Life Insurance: Protect your family with life insurance from Ethos. Get up to $3 million in coverage in as little as 10 minutes at: https://ethos.com/PDB Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Use code savings to become a shipped member for half-off only $49 at shipt.com slash offer. Terms apply. It's Friday, the 3rd of April. Welcome to the President's Daily Brief. I'm Mike Baker. Your eyes and ears on the world stage. And why, yes, I am wearing a sport coat.

And a pocket square. Check out Mr. businessman. All right, let's get briefed. First up, the war with Iran is exposing a growing rift inside NATO as President Trump pressures allies to step up or risk a major break in the alliance itself. Somewhere, off in the distance, If one listens carefully, one can hear the sound of Vladimir Putin chuckling while stroking the hairless cat sitting in his lap. Later in the show, U.S. Commandoes join Ecuadorian forces in a mission targeting alleged narco-terrorists along the country's coast.

Plus, the Trump administration lifts sanctions on Venezuela's acting president, Delci Rodriguez. And in today's back of the brief, another shake-up in Washington. Earlier, it was Christy Knoem at Homeland Security. Now, President Trump has removed Attorney General Pam Bondi from her post. But first, today's PDB spotlight. As the war with Iran moves into its second month, another front is quietly opening, not in the Middle East, but in Europe. And this one may prove just as consequential in the long term. In recent days, President Trump has begun raising the possibility of pulling the U.S. out of NATO,

or at least scaling back its commitment, frustrated that European allies have refused to join the fight to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or provide meaningful support to the Iran conflict. It's not a formal decision, not yet, but it's clearly being used as leverage, help finish the war, or the alliance may be up for renegotiation. From the administration's perspective, the ask is straightforward. The U.S. and Israel have done the heavy lifting,

thousands of strikes degrading Iran's capabilities, pushing the conflict toward what Trump is described as a potential endgame within weeks. But the hardest part may still lie ahead, getting Iran to release its hold on the straight and stabilizing global energy flows, and importantly, getting the price of gas at the pumps in the U.S., the EU and Asia, to drop. And that's where Washington wants its allies to step up. That's how Washington sees it. Obviously, the Europeans see this very differently. Rather than joining the fight right now alongside the U.S., European powers are now organizing a separate 40-country coalition aimed at reopening the strait, but only after the shooting stops. And according to reports, the emphasis isn't on combat operations, it's on diplomacy, maritime security, and eventually escorting commercial vessels once the immediate threat has subsided.

In other words, while the U.S. is asking allies to help win the war, Europe is preparing too much. manage whatever comes after it's over. That divide is driving a growing wedge between Washington and its traditional partners. European leaders have made clear they were neither consulted in advance nor eager to be pulled into a conflict they view is unnecessary. Domestic pressure is also a factor. The war is deeply unpopular with voters across much of Europe. Despite the public friction, the truth is, though, that NATO is still quietly helping the war effort. American bombers are launching from European bases. Well, okay, some European bases. Aircraft are refueling, rearming, and staging through Allied territory. Intelligence, logistics, and infrastructure across NATO countries remain important

to the U.S. ability to project force into the region. So while European leaders publicly distanced themselves from the conflict, most are providing some level of support. That's the paradox. Politically, the alliance looks fractured. Operationally, well, it's still functioning. But NATO has always relied on more than just military capability. Its strength comes from the assumption that when it matters, allies will act together. If that belief starts to erode, the consequences go far beyond this particular conflict. Adversaries notice, Russia notices, Iran notices, and perhaps most importantly, U.S. planners notice, because America's ability to operate globally depends heavily on that network of alliances,

particularly in Europe. the bases, the access, the logistics, those are not easy to replace. Now, legally speaking, withdrawing from NATO isn't simple. A law passed just a few years ago requires congressional approval to leave the alliance. But you don't necessarily have to formally exit NATO to weaken it. You can do that by undermining trust, by conditioning support, by turning the alliance into a transactional relationship. And that appears to be where things are heading. Which brings us back to the war itself, because at this point, the real question isn't just how

this fight ends, it's who's responsible for what comes next. The U.S. is trying to shift that burden onto its allies, who rely much more heavily on the Strait of Hormuz than the U.S. does. Europe, on the other hand, is saying, we're not fighting your war, but we'll step in once it's over, and we'll do it on our terms. And right now, the U.S. and its allies aren't aligned on how. or when that happens. All right, coming up next, American commandos deploy alongside Ecuadorian troops in a crackdown on narco-terror networks,

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We're again seeing how the U.S. is going after drug cartels, and this time it's playing out in Ecuador, where American commandos are on the ground backing a targeted mission against a suspected narco-terrorist organization. In recent days, those U.S. Special Operations Forces joined Ecuadorian troops in an operation known as Lanzumarina, or Maritime Spear. And I wanted to walk you through what we know so far, because this wasn't just a routine joint training. exercise, not by any means. We're learning that this is a targeted mission aimed at a coastal compound, believed to be a staging hub for Los Choneros, that's one of the most violent and well-connected criminal organizations operating in the region. Two U.S. officials, speaking to CBS News on the

condition of anonymity, said the site was being used to launch high-speed boats tied to international drug trafficking routes. According to those U.S. officials, the Special Operations Forces are operating in an advisory role, but also accompanying Ecuadorian units on the ground as they move in on the compound. So this is no longer just about training or intelligence sharing. You have American forces, physically moving alongside partner troops

as they go after networks, tied to what the Trump administration classifies as narco-terrorist organizations. And this matters because groups like Los Groneros aren't just local Ecuadorian gangs. They're transnational networks. that have evolved over decades, moving drugs via ties to Mexico's Sinaloa cartel and criminal groups from Albania, embedding themselves in global cocaine trafficking routes.

So they're being treated not just as criminal enterprises, but as threats to U.S. national security. And this kind of operation is enabled by a set of long-standing Department of War authorities, such as security cooperation agreements and train and equip programs that allow U.S. forces to support and operate alongside foreign partners. These missions are typically overseen by the Assistant Secretary of War or for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict, with the Secretary of War required to approve them and notify Congress. But what's changed, and this is the key piece, is how aggressively those authorities are now being used. CBS News first reported that President Trump rolled back constraints on U.S. commanders, giving them broader authority to authorize airstrikes and special operations raids outside traditional battlefields.

In other words, expanding both where these missions can happen and who can be targeted. Long-time listeners of the podcast know that American forces have been carrying out unilateral strikes against drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. Since September of last year, those maritime strikes have hit at least 47 vessels killing approximately 163 people. That's a sustained, aggressive campaign aimed at cutting these networks off before drugs ever reach American shore. At the same time, U.S. Southern Command has been careful about what it says publicly regarding operations in Ecuador, citing force protection concerns. But in written remarks to Congress, it made

clear where this is heading, saying it's, quote, aggressively accelerating initiatives to provide advanced unit-level training to partner forces, developing specialized skills for sustained counter-foreign terrorist organization operations. And yes, that's a mouthful. What's happening in Ecuador isn't just a one-off operation, but rather a sustained shift in how Washington is confronting these narco-terrorist networks. Okay, keeping the focus in Latin America, we turn to Venezuela. The Trump administration takes another step toward resetting relations, lifting sanctions on acting President Delci Rodriguez after years of economic pressure on Caracas.

The Treasury Department removed Rodriguez from what's known as the specially designated nationals list, and in plain terms, that's the list that effectively cuts people off from the American financial system. If you're on it, American companies can't do business with you. Your assets can be frozen, and your access to global markets is severely restricted. As we've discussed here on the PDB, Rodriguez is not some outsider stepping into clean things up in Venezuela. She served as the 24th vice president under Venezuelan strongman Nicholas Maduro's socialist regime. The very system that the U.S. has spent years trying to isolate. So, yes, the Trump administration is making a calculated move here, choosing engagement over continued isolation. But at the same time, it's engaging with a figure who was

deeply embedded in that previous government. And that raises a fair question. Are we looking at real change inside Venezuela, or just a reshuffling of the same power structure under new leadership? After Maduro's removal earlier this year, the Trump administration moved to recognize Rodriguez as Venezuela's acting leader. That decision signaled a willingness to stabilize the situation quickly, rather than risk a prolonged power vacuum or open the door for outside influence from countries like China or Russia. And now, lifting sanctions is the next logical step if the goal is actually to engage and shape what comes next, because sanctions like these are structural. They make it nearly impossible to operate in the global economy. Removing Rodriguez from that list effectively clears

path for U.S. businesses, investors, and officials to reenter Venezuela in a meaningful way. And at the center of that re-engagement, of course, is energy. The Trump administration has already temporarily eased restrictions on Venezuelan oil as part of its broader response to the Iran conflict. There's also a diplomatic shift happening alongside this. Earlier this week, I mentioned that Washington is moving to reopen its embassy in Caracas after seven years, putting America and diplomats back inside the country and giving the U.S. a direct line into Venezuela's political and economic transition. And Rodriguez, for her part, is welcoming that shift. She posted on X, writing that President Trump's decision is, quote, a significant step in the right direction

to normalize and strengthen relations between our countries, adding that she hopes it leads to investment and broader cooperation. But even with that response, the underlying question hasn't gone away. Rodriguez was a central figure in the previous. regime, and while Washington is now treating her as a partner, there's still uncertainty around how much of the system that she helped build will actually change. All right, coming up next in the back of the brief, President Trump removes Attorney General Pam Bondi, with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stepping in as acting AG. We'll have those details. Hey, Mike Baker here. Now, whether you're in a one or a two-income household, if you're a breadwinner, well, you know this, you're carrying a lot of

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Myasthenia Gravis or Lambert Eaton syndrome, and medications, including botulinum toxins, as these may increase the risk of serious side effects. Why wait? Ask your doctor. Visit Botox Chronic Migraine.com or call 1-800. 4-4-Botox to learn more. In today's back of the brief, President Trump has fired Attorney General Pam Bondi, marking a significant shake-up at the top of the Justice Department and the second major cabinet dismissal in less than a month.

Bondi was removed from her post on Thursday, with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche stepping in as acting Attorney General. The White House has not provided a single definitive explanation for the decision, but multiple reports indicate Trump had grown increasingly frustrated with Boston. Bondi in recent weeks. The president was said to be particularly disappointed over her handling of issues tied to the Jeffrey Epstein case, her lack of aggression in pursuing legal action against former officials involved with Russiagate, as well as broader concerns about the pace and direction of Justice Department actions. Now publicly, Trump struck a more measured and congenial

tone. In a truth social post on Thursday, the president praised Bondi as, quote, a great American patriot and a loyal friend, while touting her record saying she, quote, did a tremendous job overseeing a massive crackdown in crime across our country. He then indicated she would be transitioning to a role in the private sector, though he did not elaborate. For her part, Bondi is said to be cooperating fully with the transition. In her own statement, Bondi said, quote, leading President Trump's historic and highly successful efforts to make America safer and more secure has been the honor of a lifetime, end quote. Now, attention is quickly turning to who might permanently replace her. According to CNN, Trump has discussed Lee Zeldin, the current administrator of the

Environmental Protection Agency, as a possible candidate for the role, though no decision has been finalized and other names are also said to be under consideration. In the meantime, Todd Blanche will serve in an acting capacity as the administration navigates the transition. And that, my friend, friends, is the President's Daily Brief for Friday the 3rd of April. Now, if you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at PDB at thefirsttv.com. And having confirmed that it is indeed Friday, may I just remind you that we launch a brand new episode of our possibly highly acclaimed weekend show, the Situation Report, this evening at 10 p.m. on the First TV. You won't want to miss this episode. We've got Benin Ben Taliblu from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, providing terrific insight, and, analysis on the Iran conflict, as well as Gordon Chang. Gordon provides context on Japan's decision to restructure their defense strategy, as well as analysis on China's relationship with Iran.

You can also catch it and past episodes on our YouTube channel, just head on over to the YouTube and search up at President's Daily Brief or on podcast platforms everywhere. I'm Mike Baker, and I'll be back later today with the PDB afternoon bulletin. Until then, stay informed. Stay safe. Stay cool.