**Trump Authorizes CIA Covert Operations in Venezuela, Considers Military Strikes**

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump confirmed that he has authorized the CIA to conduct covert operations in Venezuela. He also stated that he is considering military strikes inside the country.

Earlier, on Tuesday, Trump announced that the U.S. military had destroyed a fifth boat in the Caribbean, killing six more alleged drug traffickers. With “the sea very well under control,” he told reporters on Wednesday, “we are certainly looking at land now.”

### Trump’s Justification for CIA Intervention

Trump said he approved the CIA intervention because Venezuelan authorities “have emptied their prisons into the United States” and because “we have a lot of drugs coming in from Venezuela.” However, he provided no evidence to support either claim.

When asked whether the CIA had permission to overthrow Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Trump called it a “ridiculous question” but added that he believes “Venezuela is feeling the heat.”

### Unprecedented Public Confirmation

The Washington Post noted that Trump’s “decision to confirm, even in general terms, his instructions to the CIA was highly unusual.” According to The New York Times, which first reported the classified directive, the CIA’s “new authority” allows it to “carry out lethal operations in Venezuela,” including “covert action” against Maduro or his government “either unilaterally or in conjunction with a larger military operation.”

U.S. officials have been clear, privately, that the ultimate goal of the “intensifying pressure campaign against Venezuela” is to drive Maduro from power.

### Maduro’s Response

In a televised speech Wednesday night, President Maduro condemned the actions, saying, “How long will the CIA continue to carry on with its coups? Latin America doesn’t want them, doesn’t need them and repudiates them.”

### Congressional Reaction

The Associated Press reported that Trump’s decision also “spurred anger in Congress from members of both major political parties.” Lawmakers expressed concern that Trump was effectively committing an act of war on legally dubious grounds and without seeking congressional authorization.

### What Comes Next?

Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) commented on the situation, stating, “Authorizing covert CIA action, conducting lethal strikes on boats and hinting at land operations in Venezuela slides the United States closer to outright conflict with no transparency, oversight or apparent guardrails. The American people deserve to know if the administration is leading the U.S. into another conflict.”

As the situation develops, many are watching closely to see how the administration proceeds in Venezuela and what consequences may arise from these decisions.
https://theweek.com/politics/trump-covert-cia-action-venezuela