Trump confirms that he authorized covert CIA operations in Venezuela | Trump administration

Donald Trump on Wednesday confirmed reports that he authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations in Venezuela; This marks a sharp escalation in US efforts to pressure the regime of President Nicolás Maduro.

The New York Times first reported the classified directive, citing U.S. officials familiar with the decision.

The US president said he authorized the action for two main reasons.

First, he claimed that Venezuela was releasing large numbers of prisoners, including people working in mental health facilities, into the United States and frequently crossing the border due to what he described as an open border policy. Trump did not specify which border they crossed.

He said the second reason is that most of the large amounts of drugs entering the United States from Venezuela are smuggled by sea.

“I think Venezuela is nervous,” Trump added, but declined to answer when asked whether the CIA had the authority to execute Maduro.