- By Supratik Das
- Sun, 30 Nov 2025 07:42 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
A sudden spike in pizza deliveries near the Pentagon and a sharply worded warning from US President Donald Trump about Venezuelan airspace have triggered intense speculation about whether Washington is preparing new military action against Nicolas Maduro’s government.
The unusual chatter began after the social media page “Pentagon Pizza Report” on X claimed that a Domino’s outlet closest to the Pentagon had reported a surge in orders on Saturday evening. The post revived the so-called “Pentagon Pizza Theory”, an informal folklore that links late-night pizza spikes at US government buildings with imminent national-security developments.
Trump Orders Airspace Closure Over Venezuela
Fueling the speculation further, President Trump issued a public advisory late Saturday directing pilots, airlines, and what he described as “drug dealers and human traffickers” to consider the airspace above and around Venezuela “closed in its entirety.”
The message, posted on Truth Social, did not clarify whether the directive was tied to an operational plan, but it followed weeks of escalating US pressure on Caracas under Washington’s counter-narcotics campaign. US officials have accused Maduro’s administration of enabling large-scale drug trafficking, a charge the Venezuelan president has repeatedly denied. Trump has previously said he is open to “any option” against Maduro, including military measures, though the White House has not formally announced a strike plan.
What's Behind Crisis?
Recent reports by Reuters and The New York Times indicated that the US was examining a second phase of actions against “narco-terrorist networks” believed to be operating through Venezuela. According to those reports, American intelligence agencies have mapped suspected drug-production and storage sites used by Colombian cartels inside Venezuela and Colombia.
However, US defence officials have issued no confirmation of planned attacks, and the Pentagon declined to comment on Saturday’s online speculation.
The US has stepped up deployments in the Caribbean as part of Operation Southern Spear, a counter-narcotics initiative involving an aircraft carrier group, Marines and multiple warships. US forces have already carried out several interdictions at sea, targeting boats allegedly linked to drug trafficking routes. Washington claims some of these vessels departed from Venezuela, while Caracas insists the United States is creating a pretext for regime change.
Pizza Theory Gains Social Media Momentum
Despite its humorous undertones, the “Pizza Meter” continues to intrigue online audiences. The theory originated in 1990 when a Washington-area Domino’s franchisee told the Los Angeles Times that heavy late-night orders from government offices often preceded major global events, including the Gulf War and the Clinton impeachment hearings.
While most pizzerias nearby the Pentagon are reporting below average traffic, the closest Dominos to the Pentagon has surged in traffic.
— Pentagon Pizza Report (@PenPizzaReport) November 29, 2025
As of 5:33pm ET pic.twitter.com/vR2DtrD0cr
Defence analysts, however, caution that the surge could reflect long meetings, routine briefings or even app glitches. “You can’t bank a war call on a pizza,” one analyst told Firstpost, “but if the Pentagon is burning the midnight oil, it deserves a second look.” Online users responded with mixed reactions. Some posted remarks like “Adios Maduro,” while others dismissed the chatter as “speculation without evidence.”
