Trump Confirms CIA Operations in Venezuela
President Trump appeared to acknowledge on Wednesday that he has cleared the CIA to conduct operations in Venezuela, potentially intensifying efforts against authoritarian leader Nicolas Maduro.
When asked by a reporter in the Oval Office about his authorization for the CIA to act within Venezuela, Trump seemed to confirm it and mentioned he might be contemplating a “ground” operation.
During the conversation, Trump reiterated his views on illegal immigration, stating, “There are two reasons why I allowed them. First, they came into the United States by emptying prisons, and they came through the border.”
He also highlighted the issue of drug trafficking, saying, “There’s a lot of drugs coming in from Venezuela, a lot of drugs coming in by sea, but we’re going to stop them from the land as well.”
The Hill has reached out to the White House for more details.
Trump’s statements are notable, as various sources indicate he has sanctioned the CIA to heighten covert activities within Venezuela, increasing the chances of direct actions against Maduro.
While he opted not to answer whether the CIA has the mandate to oust Maduro, he hinted that the focus is on amplifying pressure on the Venezuelan government.
“I think Venezuela is feeling the heat… We’re not going to destroy this country just because others wish for chaos,” Trump remarked.
He added, “This is one of them. There’s no doubt that we’ve been protecting the ocean. There’s no one there. And we’re watching. If we find the ocean, we’ll save it.”
The U.S. has recently bolstered its military activities in the Caribbean, conducting at least five airstrikes targeting what it claims are drug-smuggling speedboats, which reportedly resulted in around 27 fatalities.
Previously, Trump informed Congress that the U.S. is in an “armed conflict” with drug cartels, labeling them as foreign terrorist organizations. The Democratic Party criticized the rationale, and an attempt to pass a war powers resolution aimed at limiting military force was unsuccessful.
Trump’s advisors are reportedly pushing for the U.S. to take more decisive action regarding Venezuela. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, also serving as national security adviser, has raised rewards for information leading to Maduro’s arrest, with amounts reaching up to $50 million.
In March 2020, Maduro faced indictment in the Southern District of New York on serious charges including narcoterrorism and conspiracy related to drug trafficking.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D.N.H.), who holds a significant role on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, cautioned against dragging the U.S. into prolonged conflicts. She expressed support for tackling cartels but warned that covert CIA actions, lethal strikes on boats, and potential ground missions in Venezuela risk dragging the U.S. toward full-blown conflict with minimal oversight.
Shaheen emphasized, “The American people deserve transparency about whether the administration is leading us into new conflicts and risking our military personnel.”
