Share this @internewscast.com
United States President Donald Trump has confirmed he authorised the CIA to conduct covert operations in Venezuela, marking a sharp escalation in US efforts to pressure President Nicolas Maduro’s government.
The New York Times first reported the classified directive, citing US officials familiar with the decision, saying the Trump administration’s Venezuela strategy aims to remove Maduro from power.
The administration has offered US$50 million (nearly $77 million) for information leading to Maduro’s arrest and conviction on drug trafficking charges.

Former President Donald Trump stated that he sanctioned measures to curb drug inflow from Venezuela, with significant quantities being smuggled into the United States primarily via maritime routes.

“Our focus has shifted to land operations now, as we have effectively managed the maritime issues,” Trump remarked.

When a journalist inquired why the Coast Guard wasn’t intercepting suspected drug vessels—an approach traditionally used by the U.S.—Trump dismissed it as “politically correct” and ineffective.

Trump has repeatedly accused Venezuela of being a hub for the trafficking of the deadly drug fentanyl, but US records have shown Mexico is the main source of fentanyl.

Meanwhile, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro accused Trump of attempting to oust him from leadership. Source: AAP / Miguel Gutierrez/EPA

A man in a red jacket and a thick moustache closes his hand in a fist as he speaks into microphones.

When questioned about whether the CIA had the authorization to target Maduro directly, Trump evaded a direct response, instead stating, “Venezuela is feeling the pressure.”

Trump has ordered a large US military buildup in the southern Caribbean, and the troops have conducted at least five strikes on vessels the Trump administration has described as involved in drug trafficking, without providing evidence.
The campaign is the most recent example of Trump’s efforts to use US military power in new, and often legally contentious, ways, from deploying active-duty US troops in Los Angeles to carrying out counterterrorism strikes against drug trafficking suspects.

The Pentagon recently disclosed to Congress that Trump has determined the US is engaged in “a non-international armed conflict” with drug cartels.

Trump accused of moving US into another conflict

Trump also accused Venezuela of releasing large numbers of prisoners, including persons from mental health facilities, into the US, although he did not specify which border they were crossing.

Neither Maduro’s information ministry nor press representatives for opposition leader Maria Corina Machado immediately responded to requests for comment on Trump’s remarks.
The Trump administration has provided scant information about the strikes, frustrating members of Congress, including some of his fellow Republicans.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the senate foreign relations committee, said the administration moved the US closer to outright conflict.
“The American people deserve to know if the administration is leading the US into another conflict, putting service members at risk or pursuing a regime-change operation.”

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Cash-Strapped Australians Turn to Selling Clothes Online as Cost of Living Soars

Exclusive Insight: Cassie Walker, a resident of Melbourne, found a creative solution…

Study Reveals Alarming Trend: 10% of Australians Justify Violence for Political Reasons

A nationwide survey of more than 4,000 people found just over half…
Bunyip fatal

Heartfelt Tribute from Husband After Tragic Loss of Brisbane Mother in Motorcycle Accident

A horrific motorcycle accident has claimed the life of a 38-year-old Brisbane…
A 37-year-old man is fighting for life after being stabbed while sitting in his car in Melbourne's south-east. The 37-year-old drove away from the 52-year-old when he collided with another car at an intersection about two kilometers away in Cranbourne North.

Suspect Apprehended in Connection with Stabbing Incident in Melbourne’s South-East

A 37-year-old man is fighting for life after being stabbed in his…
The McDonnell Douglas MD-11F cargo plane is being grounded in the USA. Pictured here is a UPS plane at Louisville Airport, Kentucky

Major Cargo Fleet Suspends Operations Following Fatal U.S. Plane Crash

Federal aviation officials have issued an order for McDonnell Douglas MD-11 planes…
England overcame Fiji at Twickenham but it could have been a very different story

Sir Clive Woodward Highlights Key Takeaway from Fiji Match for England’s Upcoming All Blacks Test, Suggests Borthwick Consider Backline Changes After Overlooked Chance

England’s rugby team is riding high with nine consecutive Test victories, leaving…
Melbourne local Cassie Walker started selling her old clothes as a way to "make quick cash when times are tough".

Aussies Turn to Clothing Sales for Survival: Cassie’s Story Highlights Growing Trend Amid Economic Strain

Exclusive: Cassie Walker, a resident of Melbourne, found a quick way to…
A car that crashed into a local business is shown on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, in Tampa, Fla.  (Jefferee Woo/Tampa Bay Times via AP)

Tragic Florida Bar Crash: Four Dead, Several Injured as Car Plows Into Crowd

A speeding car fleeing police slammed into a crowded bar, killing four…

Ukraine Reports Deadly Russian Drone Strikes on Nuclear Substations, Seven Fatalities

Russia launched a barrage of drones and missiles in overnight attacks on…

Elon Musk’s Trillion-Dollar Ambition: Key Milestones and Aggressive Strategies to Achieve Financial Landmark

Is Elon Musk worth $1 trillion? According to shareholders of Tesla, the…

Controversial Police Approval of Sydney Neo-Nazi Demonstration Triggers Urgent Calls for Overhaul of Protest Laws

Premier Chris Minns has suggested that NSW Police powers should be legally…
Gold Coast University Hospital, where a man is in a critical condition after allegedly being involved in a brawl that left another man dead in northern NSW.

NSW Tragedy: Scrutinizing Police Actions Following Sudden Death Investigation

An inquiry has been initiated into the New South Wales Police following…