President Donald Trump defended calling Venezuela’s airspace closed, saying the country is sending criminals into the U.S., but told reporters not to "read anything into it" when asked whether the warning suggested an imminent strike.

While speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump said Venezuela is "not a very friendly country" and claimed it has sent criminals, gang members and drug traffickers into the U.S.

On Saturday, Trump told airlines, pilots, drug dealers and human traffickers to "consider THE AIRSPACE ABOVE AND SURROUNDING VENEZUELA TO BE CLOSED IN ITS ENTIRETY."

When asked Sunday if the warning meant an airstrike is imminent, Trump said: "Don’t read anything into it."

WHITE HOUSE RESPONDS TO REPORTS OF TRUMP PREPARING TO HIT MILITARY TARGETS INSIDE VENEZUELA

Trump also confirmed a report from the New York Times that he spoke on the phone with President Nicolás Maduro, though he offered no details about the conversation.

"I wouldn’t say it went well or badly," he said. "It was a phone call."

The president’s comments come amid rising tensions between the U.S. and Venezuela over Venezuela’s failure to stop drug traffickers from sending narcotics into the U.S.

TRUMP’S STRIKE ON CARTEL VESSEL OFF VENEZUELA SENDS WARNING TO MADURO: ‘NO SANCTUARY’

Since September, the Trump administration has conducted over 20 strikes against alleged drug boats in Latin American waters and beefed up its military presence in the Caribbean as part of Trump’s effort to crack down on the flow of drugs into the U.S.

The strikes have brought the total number of suspected narco-terrorists eliminated to over 82, with three survivors.

But as the U.S. continues to bolster forces in the waters off Venezuela, Maduro has called for peace but also remained defiant against what he called "imperialist aggression."

U.S. WARSHIPS TO PATROL INTERNATIONAL WATERS AROUND VENEZUELA AS TRUMP VOWS TO STOP CARTELS

Maduro delivered an address in Caracas last week while brandishing a sword and warning supporters to prepare for confrontation, saying the U.S. will "very soon" begin stopping suspected Venezuelan drug traffickers on land.

He appeared at a mass rally in the capital holding the sword of Simón Bolívar, the 19th-century independence leader regarded as the liberator of much of South America. Maduro told supporters the country was facing a decisive moment.

The Associated Press reported that he said, "For anyone, whether civilian, politician, military, or police –  Let no one make excuses. Failure is not an option. The homeland demands it! Our greatest effort and sacrifice. And with (Simón) Bolívar, I come to say that if the homeland demands it, the homeland will have our lives, if necessary," he declared while raising Bolívar’s sword.

Maduro framed the situation as a struggle against what he described as external threats, urging Venezuelans to mobilize against any foreign aggression.

Fox News Digital’s Diana Stancy and Efrat Lachter contributed to this report.

The Shedeur Sanders hype appeared to crater on Sunday as the Cleveland Browns rookie struggled in the team’s loss against the San Francisco 49ers and he faced questions about head coach Kevin Stefanski’s play-calling.

Sanders had a touchdown pass to Harold Fannin Jr., which helped Cleveland get the lead in the second quarter and caught the attention of LeBron James. But it was the only bit of offense that resulted in points for the Browns.

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After that touchdown, the Browns punted the ball away twice. Fannin, later, fumbled the ball, which was recovered by the 49ers. Browns punt returner Gage Larvadain also muffed the ball and the 49ers recovered. The Browns also turned the ball over twice in the fourth quarter.

Sanders was asked about Stefanski’s aggressiveness to go for it on fourth down in their own territory.

"I mean first that’s a rude question to ask if I think if it was a great call by my coach," Sanders said. "… I like being out there playing. So, whatever that comes with it comes with. We’re not going to be here and ever point no finger at no coach or do anything like that. That’s extremely disrespectful. That’s not even in my place."

PANTHERS REACH 7 WINS FOR FIRST TIME SINCE 2022 WITH UPSET VICTORY OVER RAMS

Sanders didn’t turn the ball over. But he was 16-of-25 with 149 passing yards. The San Francisco defense got to him three times.

He lamented being unable to rally his teammates to get back into the game.

"Even when I shoot my shot and I miss, I just got to keep shooting and keep bringing everybody together. I know the offense and the team is counting on me to do my job and do what I gotta do and I feel like I failed them today," he added.

Stefanski said Sanders will make start No. 3 against the Tennessee Titans next week.